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PLUMS 

and FLUM 
CULTURE 

j4 monograph of the Plums 
Cultivated and indige 
nous in North America 
With a complete account 
of their propagation 
cultivation and utilisation 

y 
By f/a. WAUGH 

ILL U Sr RAr ED 



NEW YORK 



ORANGE JUDD COMPANY 

{>I,iNETEEN Hundred and One 



THE LIBRARY OF 


CONGRESS, 


Two CopiEd Received 


APR. 12 1901 


COPVR»GHT ENTRY 


au.^.fqo^ 


CLffSS CUXXc. N*. 


&yc>5' 


COPY a 



Copyright 
NiNETEEM Hundred and On; 

F. A WAUGH 




TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Part I 

Description, Nomenclature and Classification 



CHAPTER I 

PAGES 

Systematic Pomology and the Plums . , . . i-8 
The modern neglect of systematic pomology — The 
subdivisions of systematic pomology — How to de- 
scribe fruits — Blank forms — Naming fruits — Nomen- 
clature — Concerning rules — The Lazy Club rules for 
pomological nomenclature — The classification of va- 
rieties — Pomological and botanical types — The ap- 
plication of these principles in this book. 

CHAPTER H 

Plum Botany . . . 9-19 

Plum growers are mostly botanists — the basis of bo- 
tanical judgments — Botanical classification the foun- 
dation of horticultural classification of plums — Bo- 
tanical science not infallible — The genus Primus — 
Rosaceae vs. Drupaceae — Names and descriptions 
of species and botanical varieties. 

CHAPTER HI 

The Domestica Plums 20-29 

Origin and wanderings — Introduction into Europe — 
Several types — The Reine Claude, or Green Gage 

iii 



iv Contents 

PAGES 

group— The Dame Aubert type — The Prunes — The 
Perdrigcns — The Diamond type — The Bradshaw type 
— The Lombard type — The Russian varieties — The 
Domesticas are highly ameliorated — The adaptations 
— Their future. 

CHAPTER IV 

The Damsons 30-33 

Their relation to the Domesticas — Their separateness 
— Their history — Possible genesis — The Bullace — The 
Damsons in cultivation — They come nearly true from 
seed. 

CHAPTER V 

The Myrobalan Plums 35-37 

Marianna not the best type — Myrobalan an offshoot 
of Primus domestica — Varieties of this group — Mari- 
anna and others in the orchard — Pissard — The My- 
robalan in hybridization. 

CHAPTER VI 

The Simon Plum 38-41 

Introduction to America — Origin — History — Botani- 
cal status — Commercial standing — Value in hybridiz- 
ing — The future. 

CHAPTER VII 

The Japanese Plums 42-47 

History of their introduction — The first trees — Na- 
tivity — In Europe — Popularity in America — Im- 
portance — Characters — Blossoming — Hardiness — 
Their future. 

CHAPTER VIII 

The Americana Group . 48-54 

The most prominent iVmerican type — Largely grown 
in the orchard — Natural range — Commercial range — 
Natural habitat — Pomological characteristics — Pecu- 
liarities of the flowers — The fruit — Quality — Cling- 
stones — Salability — Productiveness — Too many va- 
rieties. 

CHAPTER IX 

The Nigra Group 55-57 

Importance — Botanical history — The author's view — 
Pomological standing of the group— Distinguishing 
characters — Pomological characteristics. 



Contents v 

CHAPTER X 

PAGES 

The Miner Group 58-59 

Pomological importance — Botanical position — Prunus 
hortulana mineri — Probable mongrel origin — Charac- 
ters — Hardiness. 

CHAPTER XI 

The Wayland Group 60-66 

History of the treatment of this group — Its name — 
Prunus rivularis — Origin of the varieties geographi- 
cally considered — Genealogy of the group — Identity 
of the group with Prunus rivularis — Pomological 
characters — Distinctness — Adaptations. 

CHAPTER XII 

The Wildgoose Group 67-69 

History of Prunus hortulana — Characterization — Bo- 
tanical position — The present view of Prunus hor- 
tulana — Popularity of the varieties — Blossoming. 

CHAPTER XIII 

The Chicasaws 70-73 

Geographical range — Possible nativity — Wild char- 
acters — Blooming — The fruit — Uses — The species in 
cultivation. 



CHAPTER XIV 

The Sand Plum 74-78 

Personal paragraph — Description — The fruit — Nat- 
ural range — The Sand plum in a Kansas garden — 
Named varieties — Behavior in cultivation. 



CHAPTER XV 

The Hybrid Plums 79-85 

The beginnings — The first monograph — Possibilities — 
Origin of the Hortulanas — Hybridization in nature — 
Hybridization in the orchard — Hybrids in groups — 
Tests of hybridity — Pedigree vs. external charac- 
ters— Intermediateness of character — Caution — Diffi- 
culties foreseen — The classification of hybrids — Lim- 
its and affinities in crossing — The utility of various 
species in hybridizing. 



vi Contents 

CHAPTER XVI 

PAGES 

Other Kinds of Plums 86-93 

Other possibilities — The Beach plum — Prunus in- 
jucunda — Prunus gravcsii — Other variations of the 
Beach plum — The fruit — Basset — The Pacific plum — 
In hybridization — Resemblance to the European plum 
— Sisson — The Oklahoma plum — The Alleghany plum 
— The southern sloe — The dwarf cherries — The choke 
cherries — The black cherries. 

CHAPTER XVn 
The Domestica Plums Named and Described . 94-126 

CHAPTER XVHI 
The Damson Plums Named and Described . 127-131 

CHAPTER XIX 
The Japanese Plums Named and Described . 132-140 

CHAPTER XX 
The Americana Plums Named and Described . 141-168 

CHAPTER XXI 
The Nigra Plums Named and Described . 169-171 

CHAPTER XXII 
The Miner-like Plums Named and Described . 172-176 

CHAPTER XXIII 
The Wayland-like Plums Named and Described 177-183 

CHAPTER XXIV 
The Wildgoose Varieties Named and Described 184- 191 

CHAPTER XXV 
The Chicasaw Plums Named and Described . 192-20G 

CHAPTER XXVI 
The Hybrid Plums Named and Described . 201-228 



Contents vii 

CHAPTER XXVII 

PAGES 

Miscellaneous and Unclassified Varieties Named 

AND Described 229-234 



Part II 



Culture and Management 

CHAPTER XXVIII 

The Propagation of Plums ..... 235-250 
Practical complications — Growing from seed — 
Suckers — Layers — Cuttings — Budding — Whip-gi-aft- 
ing — Budding vs. grafting — Side-grafting — Top- 
working — The Various Stocks: Horse plurn — St. 
Julien — Myrobalan — Marianna— Peach — Apricot — ■ 
Americana seedlings — Chicasaws — The Sand plum — 
Wayland seedlings — Pacific plum — Sand cherry — 
Other stocks — Summary : As regards stocks — As re- 
gards scions — As regards locality. 

CHAPTER XXIX 

Selection of Varieties . • . • . • • • 251-264 
Personal preferences — Also prejudices — Local adap- 
tations — Basis of selections of varieties — Market va- 
rieties: Market demands — Quebec, upper Ontario, 
northern Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont — 
New England, in general — New York, northern Ohio, 
lower Ontario, southern Michigan and central Penn- 
sylvania — Wisconsin, Minnesota, Manitoba, Montana, 
the Dakotas, Iowa and northern Nebraska and Colo- 
rado—Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas 
and Colorado — Maryland and Virginia and adjacent 
territory — Georgia, Tennessee, Oklahorna and south- 
ward — Varieties for home use: Principles of selec- 
tion — Specific recommendations — Selection by experi- 
ment. 

CHAPTER XXX 

Orchard AND Garden Management . . .^ 265-281 
Orchard and garden status of the plums — Soils — 
Exposures — Drainage — Planting — Cultivation^ — 
Irrigation — Pruning — Spraying — Thinning — Picking 
and marketing. 



viii Contents 

CHAPTER XXXI 

PAGES 

Pollination 282-307 

Something new — Historical — Self-sterility — Causes of 
self-sterility — Defective pistils — Insufficient pollen — 
Difference in time of maturity between stigma and 
pollen — Impotency of pollen — Conclusions — Choosing 
varieties for pollination — Blossoming seasons — Blos- 
soming chart — Mutual affinities — Various groups con- 
sidered — Amount of pollen produced — Fruiting value 
— Specific recommendations — Table of pollenizers — 
The Domesticas and the Damsons — Agencies of polli- 
nation — The June drop — Practical conclusion. 

CHAPTER XXXII 

Geography and Climatology .... 308-316 
The relationship of the plant to its environment — 
Hardiness — Differences in hardiness of plums — Spe- 
cial investigations — Hardiness of representative va- 
rieties — Maps — Lombard and Bradshaw — The Dam- 
sons — Burbank and Kelsey — The Americana group — 
The Nigra group — The Wildgoose group — The Miner 
group — The Wayland group — The Chicasaw group — 
Commercial range: The Domesticas — The Ameri- 
canas — The Wildgoose varieties — Local peculiarities 
— Phenology: Blossoming and ripening seasons — 
Differences in different localities. 

CHAPTER XXXIII 

Diseases of the Plum . . . . . . 317-337 

Those of parasitic origin : Fruit rot — Black knot — 
Shot hole — Plum pockets — Scab — Rust — Fly-speck — 
Phoma — Powdery mildew — Lichens — Of Non-para- 
sitic origin : Gummosis — Sunscald — Leaf curl — 
Single-tree disease. 

C f APTER XXXIV 

Insect and Other Enemies of the Plum . . 338-348 
Curculio — Gouger — Aphis — Scale — Borers — Tent cat- 
erpillar — Canker worm — Bud moth — Red spider — 
Bumble flower beetle — Other insects — Mice. 

CHAPTER XXXV 
Cooking Plums . . . . . . . 349-357 

The culinary usefulness of plums — Stewing — Canning 
— Preserves — Spiced plums — Pickled plums — Jelly — 
Plum juice — Marmalade, jam, or plum butter — Dry- 
ing — Uncooked plums. 



Contents ix 

CHAPTER XXXVI 

PAGES 

Plum Trees as Ornamental Plants . . . 358-362 
Beauty of plum trees and blossoms — Japanese love 
of plum blossoms— The Wayland group— Wildgoose 
and Chicasaw groups — Americana and Miner groups 
— Domestica varieties — Japanese sorts — Dwarf spe- 
cies — Pissard plum — Other varieties with ornamental 
foliage — Concerning the black knot — Selection of 
trees for ornamental planting— Varieties specially 
recommended. 




LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 

PAGE 

S. D. Willard, portrait 7 

J. W. Kerr, portrait ........ ii 

Blossoms of Domestica Plum, Richmond .... 21 

Bradshaw Plum Tree 26 

The Bullace 31 

European Sloe 33 

The Simon Plum 39 

Burbank, Three-year-old Tree 44 

Mr. J. W. Kerr's Opinion of the Japanese Plum . . 46 

Mr. O. M. Lord of Minnesota, portrait .... 53 

Typical Wild Tree of the Nigra Type .... 56 

Blossoms of Miner 59 

Fruit of Wyland Type of Wayland Group ... 65 

Blossoms of Sophie 68 

H. A. Terry of Iowa, portrait 71 

Sand Plums 75 

Luther Burbank of California, portrait .... 78 

Varieties of Phmis : 

Bassett Beech 88 

Oklahoma 90 

Agen .......... 95 

■ Bleeker c . , . 97 

Blue Imperatrice 97 

Bradshaw 98 

Columbia 99 

xi 



xii List of Illustrations 

rr • . , ^, PAGE 

Varieties of Plums— Conimntd. 

Deaton loo 

Diamond loi 

Diiane 102 

Englebert 103 

Field . . c . . 104 

Golden Drop J04 

Goliath J05 

Grand Duke 106 

Green Gage 107 

Hand 108 

Hungarian no 

Italian Prune m 

Jefferson 112 

Kingston II3 

Lombard 114 

McLaughlin 116 

Peters 118 

Pond 119 

Royal Tours 120 

Sharp 123 

Washington 125 

Yellow Egg . 126 

Cluster Damson « 128 

Eugen Furst ....,,... 129 

Shropshire 130 

Chabot 132 

Maru 138 

Ogon 139 

Satsuma 143 

Bixby . . . = 144 

Champion . . ' 14^ 

Des Moines 147 

Gaylord 149 

Hammer jcq 

Hawkeye . . . . „ 151 

Holt * . ' 152 

Kieth 155 

Rockford . . , l6i 

Roselle . . . , „ 162 



List of Illustrations 



xiu 



PAGE 



Varieties of Plums — Continued 

Smith 

Stoddard 

Weaver . 

Wyant 

Cheney . 

Cumberland 

Golden Beauty 

Kanawha . 

Hollister 

Milton 

Mississippi 

Smiley 

African . 

Arkansas . 

Hughes 

Newman 

Pottawattamie 

America 

Apple 

Breck , 

Climax . 

Daisy 

Excelsior 

Franklin 

Golden . 

Gonzales 

Juicy 

Maynard 

Nona 

Occident 

President 

Ragland 

Ruby 

Vulcan 

Zulu 
Side-Grafting 
The Dooryard Plum Tree 
A Maryland Orchard of Wildgoose Plums 
An Irrigated Prune Orchard on the Pacific Coast 



XIV List of Illustrations 

PAGE 

Nursery Plum Trees ' . 275 

Plum Tree Two Years Old 276 

Diagram of Northern Limit of Lombard and Bradshaw 

Plums 311 

Diagram of Northern Limit of Burbank and Kelsey 

Plums 312 

Diagram of Northern Limit of Wildgoose and Other 

Plums 313 

Shot-hole Fungus ........ 324 

Plum Scab 327 

Sunscald of Plum Tree 330 

Canker of Branches of Satsuma 334 

Single-tree Disease 337 

The Plum Curculio Magnified 339 

Johnson's Curculio Catcher 341 

Frame for Curculio Catcher 342 

The Plum Lecanium Scale 344 

Double Blossoms of Americana Plum .... 361 




PREFACE 

The principal reasons why Downing's great book 
will never be revised are these: First, the list of 
varieties known and grown in America is so great 
that one man cannot have an intimate knowledge of 
them all. Second, their local variations and adapta- 
tions are so multitudinous, now that horticulture has 
spread over the whole expanse of the continent, that 
each variety requires a more critical study than before. 
For these two reasons the various groups of fruits 
must hereafter be handled by specialists. Third, if all 
these variety notes could be collected into one work 
it would require several volumes to contain them. 
Fourth, fruit growers of to-day demand a more 
extended discussion of the matters of practice than 
was given by Downing; and this again requires addi- 
tional space and further expert knowledge. Fifth, 
fruit growing is becoming more and more specialized, 
so that the man who grows pears does not care for 
a treatise on plums nor the plum crank much for a 
book about pears. 

Among the specialists in the different lines of 
pomology no one lot exhibits more ardor, enthusiasm, 
or esprit de corps than the self-styled "plum cranks." 

XV 



XVI 



Preface 



Their attitude toward themselves and the rest of the 
world is rather refreshing and considerably significant. 

Under the circumstances the publication of a 
book on plums could not be long delayed. 

Plum growing as a special business is being 
rapidly extended. Iowa, which a few years ago was 
outside the plum belt, now estimates her average 
annual crop at 300,000 bushels. In other states the 
increased production is equally remarkable. 

Plum growing for home consumption has also 
increased at a wonderful rate. There are still hun- 
dreds of families in every county who do not have 
plums enough to eat. There probably always will be; 
but their number is decreasing. 

One of the principal reasons for the extension 
of plum culture, both commercially and domestically, 
lies in the recent introduction of several new species 
of plums from Asia and the American woods. These 
have changed the whole face of plum pomology in 
this country, and have put all the earlier literature 
of the subject out of date. 

The introduction of these several new species and 
of hundreds of new varieties naturally complicates the 
subject enormously. The pomology of plums is in 
fact the most intricate branch of American horticul- 
ture to-day. ''To the student," says Professor Bailey, 
*'our native and domestic plum flora will long remain 
the most inviting, perplexed and virgin field in Ameri- 
can pomology." 

A word must be said about the Pacific coast. 
Perhaps the largest plum growing interests on the 
continent face the setting sun. Yet, pomologically 
speaking, Washington, Oregon and California belong 
rather to Europe than to North America. Their grape 
culture and their plum culture are alike European, 
and are of no interest to the country east of the Rocky 



Preface 



xvii 



Mountains, except as their fruits compete with ours 
in the markets. A discussion of CaHfornia plum cul- 
ture would be out of place in this book, and would 
be the more useless as the field is covered by Califor- 
nian books, published in California and written by 
Californians. 

The pomologist who endeavors to make use of 
those chapters in which varieties are named and 
described will soon discover a certain lack of uniform- 
ity in the treatment. In the chapters describing the 
native plums considerable effort is made to name 
every variety which has ever been put before the 
horticultural public; whereas from the chapter nam- 
ing and describing the Domestica plums a large 
number of varieties have been omitted. I am sure 
that this will appear, on reflection, to be excusable. 
The native varieties are all new, the facts of their 
origin and distribution are often undiscoverable, there 
are few authoritative descriptions of them accessible, 
and even the spelling of the names is often in doubt. 
The list of native plums is certainly too long at the 
present time, and many of the varieties named in this 
book should be discarded at once. Perhaps for this 
very reason it is the more desirable that their names, 
histories and descriptions should be first collected and 
put on record. 

The Domesticas, on the other hand, have been 
before the public ever since there was any horticul- 
ture in America. All the old varieties are described 
in Coxe, Manning, Prince, Downing, Barry, Thomas 
and the other fruit books. The student bent on 
research can always find those descriptions. But 
many of the varieties themselves have been repeatedly 
tested and found wanting. They have been finally 
and permanently discarded from American pomology. 
There is no need of putting into this book the descrip- 



xviii Preface 

tion of a plum which has had its turn and is practically 
lost. This is why some greater liberty has been taken 
with the list of Domesticas. Doubtless some varieties 
have been included which are not really in cultivation, 
and perhaps a few have been excluded which are still 
to be found, but the author hopes that no serious 
oversights of this sort have occurred. 

The author wishes to acknowledge his deep sense 
of gratitude to the whole fraternity of plum men for 
the interest they have taken in his work and the 
material help they have given him. Without their 
hearty co-operation this book might have been much 
worse. It is impossible to thank them all by name, 
for their name is legion. Nevertheless the author is 
sincerely grateful to them for their help. 

Rather more than usual pains have been taken 
to make this work accurate, authoritative and up-to- 
date. The author, under the direction of the Vermont 
Experiment station, whose sympathetic support he 
wishes especially to acknowledge, has for several years 
devoted himself continuously to the study of plums 
on every side. The various parts of this book have 
been subjected to the criticism of experts. All the 
descriptions have been edited by Mr. J. W. Kerr, who 
needs no introduction here. The chapter on plum 
botany has been gone over by Professor L. R. Jones 
of the University of Vermont, and by Dr. W. W. 
Rowlee of the Cornell University. The chapter on 
propagation has been reviewed by Professor John 
Craig and by Mr. J. W. Kerr. The latter gentleman 
has also edited the chapter which discusses plum trees 
as ornamental plants, the chapter on propagation, and 
several others. The chapter on plum diseases has 
been revised by Professor L. R. Jones, and the one on 
plum insects by Professor M. V. Slingerland of the 
Cornell University. The chapter on cooking plums 



Preface xix 

was dictated by a lady of education and experience 
in this line, and was reviewed by Miss Gertrude 
Coburn, professor of domestic economy in Iowa State 
College. Finally the whole manuscript was read by 
Professor L. H. Bailey. Moreover the proofs of the 
various chapters have been sent to different persons 
possessing special knowledge of the subjects treated 
and considerable help has been secured in this way. 
The illustrations in this book are, with a very few 
exceptions, from photographs by the author. In all 
cases where varieties are illustrated the reproductions 
show the exact size of the fruit. Readers should 
remember, however, that such pictures always look 
smaller than the objects from which they are taken. 
Finally, the author has no notion that this book 
is perfect. There are undoubtedly some mistakes in 
it. If readers will kindly point these out they will be 
corrected in future editions. 

F. A. WAUGH. 

University of Vermont, 

Experiment Station. 




PLUMS AND PLUM CULTURE 



Systematic Pomology and the Plums 




N the last fifty years, and more 
especially in the last decade, sci- 
entific knowledge and horticul- 
tural practice, marching hand 
in hand, have made phenom- 
enal progress. Systematic po- 
mology, however, has remained 
pretty much where it was left by 
the Downings and by the others 
noble men who founded the 
American Pomological society, and who first gave 
form to any branch of horticultural knowledge in 
America. This will be perfectly, almost painfully, 
clear when we remember that, whereas Downing's dis- 
cussions of insect pests and fruit-tree diseases are now 
as useless as Ben Franklin's printing press, his descrip- 

I 



of that coterie of 



2 Plums and Plum Culture 

tions of varieties are still copied far and wide. (Some 
of them are copied into this book !) 

The patient reader and student of pjums should 
bear in mind that systematic pomology comprises 
three distinct divisions, as follows: (a) description, 
(b) nomenclature, (c) classification. Varieties must 
first be described; next, the correct names must be 
determined; and, lastly, we may attempt some classi- 
fication. All three of these lines have fallen into 
neglect in this country since the days of Wilder, 
Downing and Warder, but especially the first two, — 
description and nomenclature. We need a revival of 
interest in these lines. 

In describing fruits it is highly convenient to have 
a blank form. This not only gives, at a glance, the 
various points which have to be covered in the descrip- 
tion, but it insures greater accuracy and uniformity. 
Furthermore, the fact that convenient blanks are at 
hand leads the fruit man to make descriptions of many 
interesting new fruits of which he would otherwise 
retain no notes. Every real lover of pomology ought 
to keep descriptive notes of varieties which come to 
his notice, either fruiting in his own orchard, sent to 
him by correspondents, or seen at fruit exhibitions. 
The blank form used by the author and found in expe- 
rience to be very convenient, is shown herewith: 

WOOD— 

Fruit : Received from A. B. Dennis, la. 

flavor, sweetish form, heart-shaped 

size, medium, 30x31 mm cavity, deep, flaring 

stem, short, slender suture, a line 

apex, pointed color, orange, with crimson 

bloom, light blue dots, many, minute, zvhite 

flesh, yellow skin, tough 

quality, good stone, oval, Hat, cling 

General notes : Described by W. D. G., Sept. 2, l8gg. 
Plum. Americana Group. 



Systematic Pomology and the Plums 3 

These blanks are printed on strong, stiff paper, 
and carefully cut to 5^x8 J inches. They are then kept 
in a cabinet drawer made to fit them, and arranged in 
alphabetical order, in groups, just as a library card 
index is arranged. Other blank sheets of the same 
size are used for pasting up catalog descriptions, news- 
paper notices and everything else referring to varieties. 
If a letter is received telling the history of some plum, 
or giving notes of its behavior, the letter is slipped into 
an envelope and mounted on a sheet in the same way. 
Photographs, half-tone engravings, and everything 
else of interest, goes into the same cabinet, so that 
all the notes on Wickson, Spaulding or Miner can be 
found in a moment and all in the same place. 

The varieties are arranged by groups, following 
the system of classification used in this book. 

The same form is also made up in notebook style 
for field use. 

The determination of the correct name for a 
variety is sometimes a matter of considerable difficulty. 
A simple, stable, unequivocal nomenclature is of very 
great importance to scientific pomology, yet it is a 
branch of study which has been sadly neglected by 
the horticulturists. 

The first necessit}^ is that a simple system of rules 
must be agreed upon; for, though the fundamental 
rules of nomenclature are really axiomatic, their appli- 
cation may vary somewhat in detail. Most of the rules 
generally advocated are merely suggestions for nam- 
ing new fruits. This is true of the first three out of 
the four rules now on the statute books of the Ameri- 
can Pomological society. The actual practice of the 
present-day working horticulturists, however, is cer- 
tainly better represented by the so-called ''Lazy club 
rules," proposed for discussion by the Horticulturist's 
Lazv club of Cornell universitv. These rules have no 



4 Plums and Plum Culture 

authority except the indorsement of the Lazy club;but 
the final adoption of a very similar code by some 
authoritative convention of American horticulturists 
seems to the writer to be inevitable. These are, in 
fact, the rules which have controlled the nomenclature 
in this book; and for that reason, as well as because 
they will prove generally useful to plum students, the 
rules are herewith reproduced in full. 

I.AZY CIvUB CODK FOR POMOI^OGlCAIv NOMENCI.ATURE 

FORM OF NAMES 

1. The name of a variety of fruit shall consist of 
one word, or at most of two words. 

In selecting names, simplicity, distinctiveness and con- 
venience are of paramount importance. Pitmaston Green 
Gage and Louise Bonne de Jersey are neither simple nor con- 
venient. Gold, Golden, Golden Drop, Golden Beauty, Golden 
Queen and Golden Prune, all given to different varieties of 
plums, are not distinctive. 

The use of such general terms as seedling, hybrid, pippin, 
buerre, damson, etc., is not admissible. 

Nouns must not be used in the possessive form. Mc- 
intosh's Red, Crawford's Early, Bubach's No. 5 must be writ- 
ten Mcintosh, Crawford and Bubach. 

Numbers are to be considered as temporary expedients to 
be used while the variety is under trial. 

The name of no living horticulturist should be applied to 
a variety without his full consent ; and the name of no deceased 
horticulturist should be used without the general agreement 
of living horticulturists. 

An author publishing a new variety should use the name 
given by the originator, or by the introducer, or else should 
choose the oldest discoverable local name, providing such name 
may be conformed to these rules without loss of identity. 

2. In the full and formal citation of a variety 
name, the name of the author who first published it 
shall also be given. 

Names would then take such forms as the following: 
Summer Queen, Coxe; or Henry (Jerolaman) ; or Sophie 
(J. W. Kerr, Cat. 1894); or America, Burbank, New Crea- 
tions, 1898, p. 5. 



Systematic Pomology and the Plums 5 

It is expected that such citations of names will be used 
only in elaborate works on pomology, in scientific publications, 
or in cases where they are necessary for clear discrimination 
of synonyms. 

PRIORITY 

3. No two varieties in the same group shall have 
the same name, and the name first published for a 
variety must always be used to designate it. All names 
subsequently published must stand as synonyms. 

The term "group" as here used shall be held to designate 
the large general groups specified by words in common lan- 
guage, such as raspberry, plum, apricot. 

PUBLICATION 

4. Publication consists in (a) the public distribu- 
tion of a printed name and description, the latter giv- 
ing distinguishing characters of fruit, tree, etc., or (b) 
in the publication of a new name for a variety properly 
described elsewhere. 

Such a publication may be made in any book, bulletin, 
report, trade catalogue or periodical, providing the issue bears 
the date of its publication, and is generally distributed among 
nurserymen, fruit-growers and horticulturists. 

REVISION 

5. No one is authorized to change a name for 
any reason except when it conflicts with these rules. 

Having now arranged for a system of nomencla- 
ture, we come to the matter of classification. There 
are some deep, abstruse principles underlying the 
whole theory of classification which, fortunately, it is 
impossible to take up in a work like this. In the mat- 
ter of plum classification, we have practically but one 
method in use in this country. Even as to the details 
of carrying out this method there is a somewhat 
remarkable agreement among American plum stu- 



6 Plums and Plum Culture 

dents, considering the natural complications presented 
by the plums themselves. 

This method might be termed the group or type 
method, because it collects the varieties into natural 
groups according to the more striking types which 
they present. As these types are the same ones 
sought out by the botanist, it follows that our horticul- 
tural groups of varieties among plums correspond 
almost exactly to the botanical groups. Our pomo- 
logical classification is founded directly upon botanical 
classification. This group method was given its first 
impetus by Professor Bailey when he used it in his 
Bulletin 38, in 1892. Since then it has been followed 
by everyone, including all the leading nurserymen, and 
the classification originally proposed has been devel- 
oped and slightly — but only slightly — modified to 
agree with our advancing knowledge of plums. The 
same method of classification is followed in this book. 

The application in this book of the notions ol 
description, nomenclature and classification here set 
forth has been as exact as circumstances would permit. 
Taking up these points in the reverse order, the author 
may call attention to the fact that he has given special 
attention to the study of plum classification for several 
years past and has published a number of articles on 
the subject. The matter of nomenclature has Hkewise 
engaged his personal attention, and he was a member 
of the committee which drafted the Lazy Club rules. 
The descriptions given in this book are for the most 
part made by the author from specimens. In most 
doubtful cases great pains have been taken to secure 
authentic material and to compare specimens from one 
locality with those from another. In a few cases 
descriptions have been furnished by friends and corre- 
spondents. A small number of descriptions of old and 
rare varieties in the Domestica group have been 




S. D. WILLARD of Geneva, N. Y. 
A leading- plum grower of the United States 



8 Plums and Plum Culture 

adapted from Downing. In the Japanese group, the 
pubhcations of the Cornell experiment station, em- 
bodying the work of Professor Bailey and Mr. Hunn, 
have been freely drawn upon. In the list of hybrid 
varieties, the descriptive notes published by the author 
in the reports of the Vermont experiment station have 
been largely used. Where descriptions are taken from 
literature their source is indicated. 

In following the outline of description shown at 
the beginning of this chapter, some allowance has to 
be made, of course, for personal judgment. This 
shows itself particularly in defining such characters as 
quality and flavor. The standard of size, too, must 
be allowed to vary somewhat. What is large in the 
Chicasaw group would be small among the Domes- 
ticas or the hybrids. Similarly, what would be a thick 
skin on a Chicasaw would be very thin on an 
Americana. One must keep these points in mind in 
interpreting the following descriptions. He should 
remember, too, that all points have not equal value in 
determining the correctness of a variety. For instance, 
flavor, quality and size vary greatly with different 
soils, climates, methods of cultivation, etc. Even 
color, the one characteristic most emphasized in 
catalog descriptions, is more apt to vary than is the 
shape of the stone, or the character of the dots. These 
two points are probably of greatest importance in 
determining varieties. After these, the others come 
about in the following order: Form, color, cavity, 
bloom and stem. 




II 

Plum Botany 



HE plum enthusiasts of America 
are mostly good botanists. This 
is necessary from the fact that 
we have so many species of 
plums in cultivation. More- 
over, these species are variable, 
very difficult for the best bota- 
nists to discriminate, and now 
that they are being blended 
and compounded by hybridization, it requires the 
closest study and the most intimate acquaintance 
to know one from another. This knowledge is 
best gained in the nursery and the orchard, where 
the horticulturist lives with the multitudinous cul- 
tivated varieties. Such knowledge, as anyone can 
see, is vastly superior to that which the botanist can 
possibly secure from his dried specimens. Thus it 
has come about that the horticulturists have practically 

9 



1 1 Hi III I iniriM^i I 



lo Plums and Plum Culture 

taken the study of the plums out of the hands of the 
botanists. They have been obHged to do it. 

I have often heard good plum horticulturists say, 
in speaking of the classification of varieties, that it 
seemed to them that such and such a disposition ought 
to be made, but that perhaps a botanist would think 
differently. The man who says that gives unmerited 
flattery to the botanist and misunderstands his own 
position. The botanist has no- secret key to classifica- 
tion. He knows nothing about a given specimen 
except what he sees. If he is a trained botanist he 
sees more than the untrained man in the street; but 
even the best botanist cannot see so much in a plum 
as the horticulturist who has watched it year in and 
year out, in nursery and orchard, has seen it grow and 
blossom and bear fruit. I have found some plum 
cranks who have never been to college except in the 
plum orchard, and who ofifer their opinions very diffi- 
dently, but who have a fine sense of discernment when 
it comes to questions of varieties, their distinctions 
and classifications. Such men ought to appreciate 
that they are really botanists within their own field, 
just as much as the man who writes Ph. D. after 
his name. 

Everyone who knows about the present position 
of plum knowledge in this country will see how impor- 
tant it is in a work like the present to take up the 
strictly botanical side of plum classification. If the 
practical plum grower will understand the argument 
offered above, that he is himself a botanist in so far 
as he has any personal knowledge of plums, he will 
perhaps be more ready still to take an interest in this 
necessary chapter which describes the various species 
and botanical varieties. 

This is the basis of our horticultural classification, 
Those men who have such strange notions of the 




J. W. KERR of Maryland 
One of the most prominent authorities on native and Japanese plums 



1 2 Plums and Plum Culture 

botanist's powers imagine also that he has some secret 
and sure formula for telling one species from another. 
Science ought to be exact, they think, and the scien- 
tist who describes, names and classifies species ought 
to be able to tell exactly whether a given specimen 
or a given variety belongs in this species or that. And 
such men are suprised when botanists disagree. 

But botanical science is not exact, and never can 
be. The botanist simply has to depend on his judg- 
ment as to whether two varieties belong in the same 
species or not; and his judgment may be either better 
or worse than the judgment of the man who propa- 
gates Wildgoose and Burbank in his nursery. The 
trouble is that the plums will not conform themselves 
to the botanist's descriptions! 

Plums grow pretty much as they please, and the 
botanist has to take them as he finds them. Some- 
thing new is all the while coming up and disarranging 
the old descriptions and classifications that we have 
made. And then we have to make new ones. That 
is the way botany grows. That is the way, too, that 
pomology grows. We ought to be glad that they are 
growing sciences, and not dead ones. 

In the following botanical review, descriptions 
are given of the principal species of plums which have 
been cultivated either for fruit or for ornament. As the 
number of known species runs up into the hundreds, 
however, and as nearly all of them bear fruit in some 
degree edible, it will be seen that a complete review 
of plum botany is not practicable here. Along with 
the plums proper it is thought best to describe the 
principal American species of the choke-cherry group 
(section Padus), as these are more or less propagated, 
cultivated and handled by the catholic-minded plum 
specialists of this country, and are especially useful in 
hvbridization. 



Plum Botany 13 

The older botanies in use in this country mostly 
include in the genus Prumis all the peaches, cherries 
and plums, after the plan of Bentham & Hooker. In 
the more recent publications, however, there is a mani- 
fest tendency to return to the earlier classification 
which puts these different fruits into two, or even 
three, separate genera. In the view of the present 
writer, the latter disposition is the better. It does 
not, however, af¥ect the treatment to be given the 
plums in this book, since here we shall be concerned 
with the plums only, which are included by all bota- 
nists in the genus Primus. 

Similarly the older American botanies, still fol- 
lowing Bentham & Hooker, refer this aggregate genus 
Pniniis to the family Rosaccac, while later publications 
in this country put the plums in another family called 
Drupaceae. This change also seems an improvement, 
and will be followed here. 

We are now ready to proceed with the botanical 
descriptions, names and classifications. 

Family, Drupaceae, DC. — Trees or shrubs with alternate, 
petiolate, serrate leaves, the small stipules early deciduous, the 
teeth and petiole often glandular. Flowers in corymbs, um- 
bels, racemes or solitary, regular and nearly always perfect. 
Calyx inferior, mostly early deciduous, free from the ovary 
five'-lobed. Disk annular. Calyx lobes imbricated in the bud. 
Petals, five, inserted on the calyx. Stamens numerous, in- 
serted on the calyx at the base of the petals. Pistil nearly 
always single, with two ovules, only one of which normally 
develops; style simple; stigma mostly small, capitate. Fruit, 
a drupe. The bark of most species exudes gum, and the leaves, 
bark and seeds contain prussic acid, making them bitter. There 
are about six genera and over one hundred species, the ma- 
jority of which grow in the north temperate zone. 

Genus, Prunus, Linn. — Trees or shrubs, mostly with edi- 
ble fruits; flowers, white or pink, with spreading petals. 
Stamens, 15-30, distinct, with filiform filaments. Style, ter- 
minal ; stigma, usually truncate. The fruit with a fleshy exte- 
rior, glabrous, and containing a hard bony pit, which in turn 
contains the seed. There are about ninety species of the 
genus as here defined. 



14 Plums and Plum Culture 



PI.UMS PROPER 
EUROPEAN OR ASIATIC SPECIES 

Prunus domestica Linn. — The European or common 
garden plum. Flowers showy, white, more or less fascicled; 
leaves large, ovate or obovate, usually firm and thick in tex- 
ture, very rugose, usually pubescent beneath, coarsely serrate ; 
shoots usually downy ; fruit very various, of many shapes and 
flavors, but mostly globular-pointed or oblong, the stone large 
and slightly roughened or pitted. Represented in such varie- 
ties as Lombard, Green Gage, Goliath, etc. 

Prunus domestica damascena Linn. — The Damson 
plums. Usually somewhat dwarfer than the foregoing, with 
shorter jointed, slightly spinescent branches; leaves smaller, 
ovate or obovate, more sharply serrate ; fruit small, sour. The 
Bullace (Prunus insititia Linn., or P. spinosa insititia Gray) 
belongs here. 

Prunus cerasifera Ehrh. — P. domestica myrobalan 
Linn. The Myrobalan or Cherry plum differs from Prunus 
domestica in a more slender habit, often thorny; flowers 
mostly smaller ; leaves smaller, thin, smooth and finely and 
closely serrate ; fruit globular and cherry-like, ranging from 
the size of a large cherry to over an inch in diameter, with a 
depression about the stem, in various shades of red or yellow. 
In this country used mostly for stocks. 

Prunus spinosa Linn. — European sloe or blackthorn. 
A low, bushy shrub or small tree, resembling the Damson, but 
more spiny, with smaller leaves, flowers and fruits. The 
fruits are rather often borne in pairs, sometimes even in 
threes, and are small, black and very sour. 

Prunus triflora Roxb. — The Japanese plum. A strong 
growing tree, perhaps native to China, numerous varieties of 
which have recently been disseminated in the United States. 
Flowers usually densely fascicled ; leaves and shoots smooth 
and hard, the former obovate or oblong-obovate, prominently 
pointed and finely and evenly serrate; fruit usually conspicu- 
ously pointed, red, yellow or purple, with a very firm flesh 
and commonly a small stone. Represented with us in such 
varieties as Abundance, Burbank, Ogon and Satsuma. 

Prunus simonii Carr. — Apricot plum, or Simon plum. 
A rather small, straight-growing tree, with pinkish-white 
flowers, borne singly or in pairs ; leaves oblong-lanceolate, 
thick and firm, dull, condupHcate. closely serrate; fruit oblate, 
maroon-red, yellow flesh, firm, with a very short stem, with a 
roundish, spongy, roughened pit. Not uncommon in cultiva- 
tion in this country. Native to China. 



Plum Botany 15 

AMERICAN SPECIES 

Prunus AMERICANA Marsh. — The American wild plum 
of the central states. The type distinguished by entire calyx 
lobes, which are pubescent on the inner surface, stone turgid ; 
leaves oval, or slightly obovate ; petioles mostly without glands. 
Tree spreading, ragged, thorny, 8-20 feet high ; flowers large, 
white, on slender pedicels; leaves very coarsely veined, never 
glossy or shining; fruit more or less flattened upon the sides, 
firm and meaty, the skin tough and glaucous and never glossy, 
ripening through yellow to red. Occurs wild from New Jersey 
and Ohio to Montana and Colorado. It varies southward, in 
Texas and New Mexico represented mostly by the variety 
mollis. Represented in such varieties as De Soto, Weaver, 
Hawkeye and Stoddard. 

Prunus Americana nigra Waugh. — Canada plum. In 
its extreme forms easily distinguished by the glandular-serrate 
calyx lobes, glabrous on the inner surface : compressed stone ; 
broadly obconic, dark red on the outer and bright red on the 
two glands. Flowers large, white, with short, thick peduncles 
conspicuously marked by the scars left by the falling of the 
bud scales; pedicels dark red, slender, glabrous; calyx tube 
broadly obconic, dark red on the outer and bright red on the 
inner surface; fruit oblong-oval, orange-red; stone nearly oval, 
compressed. Occurs wild from Newfoundland west to Rainy 
and Assiniboine rivers in Canada, and commonly in the New 
England states, where it is found along roadsides and in waste 
places. Best represented in cultivation by the varieties, Cheney 
and Aitkin. 

Prunus Americana mollis Torrey and Gray. — Woolly- 
leaf plum. This form has the leaves and pedicels, and some- 
times the young branchlets. pubescent. The fruit is usually 
small, sour and late. Occurs occasionally as far north as Iowa, 
mixed with the ordinary form of Prunus americana, but is 
more common southward, especially in Texas. 

The Miner Group Bailey. Prunus hortulana mineri, 
Bailey. — The Miner-like plums. An ill-defined group, stand- 
ing between Prunus americana and the Wildgoose group 
below; most closely resembling the former, but doubtless more 
or less hybridized with the latter. Leaves dull and thick, with 
medium-sized, regular, somewhat appressed serrations ; fruit 
hard, marked with conspicuous dots ; stone usually more or 
less turgid. 

The Wayland Group, Waugh. — Prunus rivularis Scheele. 
Prunus hortulana Bailey in part. The Wildgoose group, 
Bailey, in part. The Wayland-like varieties. Trees fairly 
strong growers, with long, smooth, bending, willowy 
branches, the bark usually dark colored; leaves, large 



1 6 Plums and Plum Culture 

to very large oval, or sometimes slightly obovate, with 
taper points, glabrous above and finely tomentose beneath, 
especially on the larger veins, margins rather finely ap- 
pressed-serrate, petioles with two to six glands ; flowers 
appearing comparatively late, in long dense clusters of 
characteristic form. The buds are especially characteristic ; 
clear white ; fruit usually strikingly spherical, or only a trifle 
ovoid or ellipsoid, medium size, either bright transparent 
cherry red or else whitish transparent yellow, quite different 
from the opaque yellow of Kelsey or Golden Drop ; dots usually 
large, whitish and conspicuous, bloom white, stone medium 
size, rather turgid, cling. The quality averages high. The 
flesh is almost always very firm and meaty. Represented in 
such varieties as Wayland and Golden Beauty. This group is 
somewhat numerously represented by plums growing wild in 
western Texas. They may be regarded as hybrids between 
forms of the Chicasaw and the Americana plums. 

The WiLDGOOSE Group, Bailey. Primus hortiilana, Bailey, 
in part. The Wildgoose plums. Strong, wide-spreading, 
small trees, with smooth, straight twigs, and a peach-like 
habit; flowers rather small, often very short-stalked; leaves 
narrow-ovate or ovate-lanceolate, thin and firm, flat, more or 
less peach-like, smooth and shining, closely glandular-serrate; 
fruit spherical, bright colored and glossy, lemon yellow or 
brilliant red, the bloom very thin, juicy, with a clinging, turgid 
and roughish, small, pointed stone. Occurs wild in various 
parts of the Mississippi valley, especially in the neighborhood 
of St. Louis. Represented by Wildgoose, Milton, Downing, 
and other cultivated varieties. 

Prunus angustifolia Marsh. — P. cJiicasa Michx. The 
Chicasaw plum. Slender tree, 12-20 feet high, slender, zig- 
zaged twigs ; smaller, lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate leaves 
which are very closely and finely serrate, shining and trough - 
like ; fruit small, very early, red or rarely yellow, the skin thin 
and shining and covered with many small, light dots and a 
very thin bloom; the flesh soft and juicy, often stringy, closely 
clinging to the small, broad, roughish stone. Wild from 
Delaware south and west to Missouri and Texas. Repre- 
sented in cultivation by numerous varieties, such as Newman, 
Arkansas and Pottawattamie. 

Prunus angustifolia watsoni Waugh. — P. wafsoni 
Sargent. The Sandhill plum. A western extension of the 
foregoing. Shrub 6-10 feet high; leaves ovate, acute, rounded 
or wedge-shaped at the base, finely crenulate-serrate, lustrous 
on the upper and pale on the lower surface; petioles slender, 
grooved, bi-glandular at the apex; flowers in crowded, few- 
flowered fascicles; calyx cup-shaped, the lobes acute, rounded 
at the apex, without glands, ciliate on the margins, pubescent 



Plum Botany 17 

on the inner face; petals inserted remotely on the glandular 
disk, narrowly obovate, rounded and more or less erose above, 
contracted below into short claws, pure white ; fruit globose 
or rarely oblong, red or yellow. Sandy streams and hills south 
and southeast Nebraska and central and western Kansas. Has 
a few cultivated varieties, but they are little known. 

Prunus alleghaniensis Porter. — American Sloe. A 
small, slender tree or shrub, 3-15 feet high ; leaves lanceolate 
or oblong-ovate, often long-acuminate, finely and sharply ser- 
rate, softly pubescent when young ; fruit dark purple, with a 
bloom. Alleghany mountains in Pennsylvania. Not known 
in cultivation. 

Prunus umbellata Ell. — Hog plum, or Southern Sloe. 
A small, bushy tree ; flowers on slender pedicels nearly an inch 
long, rather large, white ; leaves smallish, ovate or slightly 
obovate or sometimes short oblong, thin and dull, closely and 
evenly serrate ; fruit about three-fourths inch in diame- 
ter, yellow or reddish ; flesh firm and austere ; stone short and 
turgid, cherry-like. Seashore from South Carolina to Florida, 
and westward to Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkansas. No 
cultivated varieties. 

Prunus subcordata Benth. — Pacific plum. A small tree 
20-25 feet high ; leaves broadly ovate or orbicular, usually 
cordate, sharply and often doubly serrate, slightly coriaceous, 
dark green on the upper and pale on the lower surface ; flowers 
in 2-4 flowered umbels on slender pedicels; calyx lobes oblong- 
obovate, rounded at the apex, half as long as the white petals ; 
fruit oblong, dark red or purple or sometimes yellow. Pacific 
coast species. Occasionally cultivated. 

Prunus maritima Wang. — The Beach plum. A very 
variable species. Low straggling shrub, 1-5 feet high, leaves 
ovate or oval, finely serrate, softly pubescent underneath ; 
pedicels short, pubescent ; fruit globular, purple or crimson, 
with a bloom, one-half inch in diameter; stone very turgid, 
acute on one edge. Sea beaches. New Brunswick to Virginia. 
Some distance from the coast has leaves smoother and thinner, 
and fruit smaller. Perhaps this variation, mentioned in Grav's 
Manual, is to be identified with Small's Prunus injucunda. 
which is a form of the Beach plum growing in Georgia and 
Alabama. Graves' plum. Prunus gravesii Small, is a Con- 
necticut form with small roundish, coarsely serrate leaves. It 
is rare and of no practical consequence. The Beach plum is 
sometimes cultivated, and gives promise of greater usefulness 
in the future. The variety Bassett is to be referred to this 
species. 

Prunus gracilis Engelm. and Gray. — Oklahoma plum. A 
small shrub, 1-4 feet high ; soft, pubescent ; leaves oblong- 



1 8 Plums and Plum Culture 

lanceolate to ovate, acute, sharply serrate, becoming nearly 
glabrous above, 1-2 inches long; pedicels and calyx pubescent"; 
fruit less than one-half inch in diameter; stone rather turgid, 
sub-orbicular. Prairies and sandy places, southern Kansas 
to Texas and Tennessee. 

DWARF FASCICLED CHERRIES 

Prunus pumila Linn. — Eastern Sand cherry. A lov\r, 
straggling shrub, usually decumbent at the base, the stronger 
branches erect, sometimes to a hight of 5-7 feet. Flowers 
small, on slender stalks ; leaves long, oblanceolate, thick and 
veiny, sharply serrate ; fruit mostly black, as large as a Morello 
cherry, edible. Occurs along rivers and coasts in the northern 
states. Not much cultivated except in botanical collections. 

Prunus pumila besseyi Waugh. — P. besseyi Bailey. 
Western Sand cherry. A western modification of the preced- 
ing, usually more erect, with larger, thicker, slightly broader, 
more coarsely serrate leaves, the teeth being more appressed ; 
fruit larger, on shorter, thicker peduncles. Grows wild from 
Manitoba to Kansas, w^estward to California and Utah, and 
eastward, perhaps, to New York(?). Introduced to cultiva- 
tion as the Improved Dwarf Rocky mountain cherry. 

Prunus cuneata Raf. — Appalachian cherry. An erect 
shrub, 1-4 feet high, often rather strict ; leaves oval, oblong 
or obovate, obtuse or sometimes acute at the apex, narrowed or 
wedge-shaped at the base, more or less serrate, with fine 
appressed teeth, rather thin, about 1-3 inches long, occasionally 
as much as an inch wide; petioles 4-10. lines long; flowers in 
umbels; fruit globose, less than one-half an inch in diame- 
ter. Usually in wet soil or among rocks. New Hampshire to 
Minnesota and southward to North Carolina. Not known 
in cultivation.* 

racemed cherries 

Prunus serotina Ehrh. Wild Black cherry. Some- 
times shrubby, but often becoming a good-sized tree, with 
fine close-grained wood, highly valued for cabinet work ; leaves 
oblong or lance-oblong, usually taper-pointed, shining above, 
glabrous or gray tomentose beneath, serrate, with short, 



*Prunus Pennsylvania Linn. — Bird cherry, Pin cherry. _ Though 
belonging to a somewhat different section of the genus, this species 
should be mentioned here. It is a small tree, with light, reddish bark; 
oblong-lanceolate, pointed leaves, with margins finely and sharply ser- 
rate; flowers small in fascicles, on long pedicels; fruit the size of small 
peas, light red, sour, growing several in a cluster. Growing in rocky 
and sandy woods, especially after fires or lumbermen have been through. 
Atlantic coast to Rocky mountains, especially through Canada and the 
northern states. 



Plum Botany 19 

incurved, callous teeth ; flowers in long racemes ; fruit black, 
bitter, as big as peas. Quebec to Kansas and southward. 
Shows many interesting variations. In New Mexico and 
Mexico it runs into the following. 

Prunus serotina salicifolia Waugh. — P. salicifolia 
H. B. K. P. capuli Car. — Willowleaf cherry, Mexican cherry. 
Has longer, narrower leaves than the former. Found along 
the Mexican border and in Mexico. Prunus alahamensis 
Mohr, seems to stand somewhere between this and the last. 

Prunus virginiana Linn. — Choke cherry. Tall shrub 
or small tree, with oval, oblong or obovate leaves, abruptly 
pointed, thin, sharply serrate, with slender, projecting teeth; 
flowers in racemes, shorter and closer than in Prunus serotina; 
fruit ripening in summer, red, turning almost black, astringent 
when green, but fairly eatable when fully ripe. Ranges from 
Newfoundland to Manitoba and British Columbia, south to 
Georgia, Texas and Colorado. Occasionally cultivated. 

Prunus virginiana demissa Torr. — P. demissa Walp. — 
Western choke cherry. A western extension of the former, 
having thicker, stiffer, boader leaves, more inclined to be gray 
tomentose on the backs, more obtuse at the apex. Rocky 
mountains and westward. 

Prunus caroliniana Ait. — Carolina Laurel cherry. A 
small, ornamental evergreen tree, native to the south Atlantic 
states ; leaves coriaceous, smooth, glossy, lance-ovate or oblong, 
entire, or with a few sharp appressed teeth ; flowers in dense, 
upright racemes which are shorter than the leaves; fruit small, 
black and bitter. 




Ill 



The Domcstica Plums 




WHOLE chapter might easily be 
filled with a review of the spec- 
ulations which have been made 
concerning the origin and early 
wanderings of the Domestica 
plums. The present writer has 
elsewhere given an entire chap- 
ter to a bibliography and sum- 
mary of the early history of the 
Reine Claude group alone.* It does not seem profit- 
able, however, at the present time to devote more than 
a paragraph to matter of such doubtfully practical 
value. 

The Domestica plums probably had a common 
origin; and perhaps they were evolved from the Dam- 
sons, as has been frequently supposed. Possibly, 
also, the Damsons were evolved from the European 
Sloe, as has also been guessed ; but there is no evidence 



^Gardeners' Chronicle, 24:465. 1898. 
20 




BLOSSOMS OF DOMESTICA PLUM, RICHLAND 



12 Plums and Plum Culture 

except that of the external characters of the species 
to warrant such a supposition. 

Doubtless eastern Europe and west-central Asia 
were the original home of the Domestica plums as 
we now know them. It seems fairly certain that such 
old and distinct groups as the Damsons, the Reine 
Claudes, and the prunes came from that country wear- 
ing much their present botanical aspects, — though, 
of course, all have been greatly improved horticul- 
turally since their arrival in Europe. Koch* thinks 
that the Prunes were introduced to Hungary from 
Turkestan about 400 to 450 years ago. The Reine 
Claudes were introduced later, coming into Europe 
by way of Italy, France and Germany in this order. 

These plums were introduced into this country 
from Europe at the establishment of the first colonies, 
and new strains and varieties have been brought over 
from time to time ever since. Perhaps the most im- 
portant separate importation of these plums was that 
made by the French colonists in Canada, where some 
of the old French varieties are still propagated pre- 
cisely as they were brought over. 

The Damsons and the Myrobalans have been 
included in the same species with the Domesticas by 
some writers and have been kept separate by some. 
In this book they are put into separate groups. 

After putting the Damsons and the Myrobalans 
out of consideration, however, there are several types 
left, showing somewhat important differences among 
themselves. We will notice these several types briefly, 
taking them up as nearly as possible in the order of 
their prominence. 

The Reine Claude, or Green Gage group. — As has 
already been mentioned, these plums were recognized 

*Die Deutschen Obstgeholze, 146. 1876. This is one of the best 
works on the subject. 



The Domestica Plums 23 

as a separate type from very early times. They were 
brought to France from Italy about the year 1500, by 
Queen Claudia, wife of Francis I. The name, Reine 
Claude, was given in her honor. Not long afterward 
the Reine Claude plums were introduced to England. 
The introduction into England came from Italy, under 
the old Italian name, Verdoch, and from France with 
the labels lost. This latter importation from which the 
labels were lost came to the Gage family, prominent 
English amateur horticulturists of that day; and from 
this family received the name, Green Gage. 

These varieties come more or less true from seed, 
and they have been largely propagated in that way. 
This has given rise to a large group of varieties, — 
many of them having originated in this country, — all 
having numerous characters in common with the 
typical Green Gage. These group characters are as 
follows: Foliage usually large, leaves broad and rather 
fiat, with very coarse serrations; fruit, nearly spherical, 
in a few varieties slightly elongated, green or tardily 
turning to a dull, creamy yellow, occasionally with a 
faint pink blush; flesh, rather firm or even hard, green, 
clinging to the stone, (partially free in a few varieties). 

The principal varieties of this type grown in this 
country are: Bavay, Green Gage, Lawrence, Imperial 
Gage, McLaughlin, Jeflferson, Washington, General 
Hand, Lucombe Nonsuch, Bleeker, Peters Gage, 
Ouillin, Bryanston and Golden Gage. 

It is one of the most persistent types to be found 
among the plums. It is also one of the best. 

The Dame Aubcrt type. — This includes our largest 
plums, perhaps excepting one or two hybrids. It 
appears to be of more modern origin than some of the 
other types of Domestica plums, yet it has been known 
in Europe for about two centuries at least. The old 
European variety, which is best known and oftenest 



24 Plums and Plum Culture 

mentioned, is called Dame Aubert in nearly all the 
European literature. This is undoubtedly the same 
variety which we know as Yellow Egg, or Magnum 
Bonum. The only other varieties of this type which 
I know are Golden Drop and Grand Duke. 

The group characters of these varieties may be 
summarized as follows: Large growing trees, with 
large foliage; fruit, very large oval, with more or less 
of a neck; yellow or greenish yellow, or purplish ;flesh 
yellow. 

The Primes. — Horticulturists are now and always 
have been much at variance as to what should be 
called a prune. In this country, particularly in the 
Pacific states, a prune is any plum that can be dried 
and sold as a prune. From the standpoint of classi- 
fication, such a definition cannot be accepted. Such 
an application of the term has never been made in 
France or Germany, where these plums are largely 
grown. The confusion which arises from the loose 
use of the term prune is painfully evident, especially 
to Pacific coast horticulturists; and it seems much 
better when we speak of prunes to use that word to 
designate a pomological group rather than a commer- 
cial accident. From the standpoint of classification, 
the only proper Avay to do is to select some type which 
has certain visible and recognizable characteristics, 
and to call those varieties prunes which bear a sufh- 
cient resemblance to the selected type. The variety 
which would be best understood and most readily 
accepted as a type by American pomologists is doubt- 
less Fellenberg, sometimes called Italian Prune. Other 
varieties which might be commony accepted as prunes 
are German Prune, and Prune d'Agen. 

The group characters which may be assigned to 
the prunes, considering them as a distinct type, are as 
follows: Trees and foliage, various; fruit, mostly 



The Domestica Plums 25 

medium to large, always oval or ellipsoid, usually with 
one side of the oval straighter than the other; com- 
pressed; color, blue or purple; flesh, mostly greenish- 
yellow, rather firm; stone, usually free in a large cavity. 

It will be seen that the group, as thus charac- 
terized, corresponds fairly well to the popular western 
conception of what is a prune. The prune type is one 
of the most striking and perhaps, commercially, the 
most important, of any of our cultivated plums. 

The Perdrigons. — The so-called Perdrigons have 
always been recognized by European writers as a 
group of considerable importance. Downing describes 
White Perdrigon, Blue Perdrigon and Red Perdrigon, 
and some other varieties which a study of the bibliog- 
raphy would refer to this group. Still, the name Per- 
drigon is now practically unknown in America, and 
the type itself is hardly more common. The only one 
of the old original European varieties which I have 
found in this country is Royal Tours, and this is very 
rare. The best known variety is probably Goliath. 
The Late Black Orleans, cultivated by Ellwanger & 
Barry, I would also refer to this type. I have recently 
met the old French Red Perdrigon in Canada. 

The group may be roughly characterized as fol- 
lows: Fruit, medium to large, spherical or oblate, 
sometimes distinctly depressed at the apex, usually 
with a deep suture, blue or purple; flesh, greenish- 
yellow, rather firm. 

The Diamond type. — The uninformed public 
knows three varieties of plums, — ''blue plums, red 
plums and yellow plums." It is often amusing to 
hear the confident tone in which the benighted cow 
farmer or hog grower decides to plant one tree of ''blue 
plums" and one tree of "yellow plums" to supply his 
family. "The blue plum is the best kind to eat," he 
says, "but the yellow variety is best to can." 




BRADSHAW PLUM TREE 
A. H. Johnson's Orchard, Wolfville, Nova Scotia 



The Domestica Plums 27 

There is, however, one type among the Domes- 
ticas which almost fulfills the popular notion of a 
"blue plum." This is the Diamond type, represented 
also by such varieties as Kingston, Quackenboss, Blue 
Imperatrice, Shipper, St. Lawrence and Arctic. These 
varieties are characterized by having fruit mostly 
large, oval, very slightly compressed sidewise, dark 
blue, with heavy blue bloom, flesh generally yellow, 
very firm, usually clinging to the stone. 

These plums are mostly good shippers and good 
bearers, and, though not of high quality, they are 
usually successful in the open, undiscriminating mar- 
ket. They are to the plums what Ben Davis and Gano 
are to the apples. 

The Bradshaw type. — After we leave the Dia- 
mond type we are drawing pretty fine distinctions, yet 
it seems possible to group together roughly some of 
the varieties commonly known as "red plums." The 
Bradshaw serves best as a type of these varieties, 
which are all characterized by having large, slightly 
obovate fruit, which is purplish, and has distinct pink- 
ish dots. The varieties also have a thin skin and a 
comparatively soft, juicy flesh. They are popular for 
home use and for market. 

Along with Bradshaw there should be referred 
to this type such varieties as Victoria, Pond, Field, 
Duane Purple, Oswego and Giant Prune. 

The Lombard type. — Probably the thinnest dis- 
tinction of all is to be made betwixt the Bradshaw and 
the Lombard type. The latter, however, differs from 
the former in having fruit generally smaller, more 
regularly oval, very slightly compressed sidewise. 
pinkish-purple, or purplish. The varieties which I 
would refer to this type, rather than to the preceding, 
are Lombard, Communia, Voronesh 20 of Budd, 
Leipsic of Budd, Prince of Wales, Merunka. 



28 Plums and Plum Culture 

It will be noticed that more than half of these are 
Russian varieties; also that all the Russian varieties 
are referred to this type. It seems to inherit a hardy, 
thrifty, north-European strain of the Domestica blood, 
somewhat less encumbered with the amenities of high 
culture than the German, French and Italian types. 
It is, in fact, in these Russian varieties that the writer 
finds his justification for the attempt to separate Lom- 
bard from Bradshaw in a scheme like the foregoing. 

The Domesticas doubtless exhibit at present 
the highest degree of amelioration known among 
plums. Perhaps it would not be too much to say that 
they show a greater improvement upon the original 
w^ld forms than any other fruit in the whole horticul- 
tural catalogue. There is reason enough for this in 
the fact that they have been subjected to all the im- 
proving influences of cultivation for at least four hun- 
dred years, — probably longer, — whereas the American 
species have been impressed into our gardens prac- 
tically within the last quarter century; and the Jap- 
anese plums have not been carefully propagated and 
selected until they reached this country within the 
memory of the youngest fruit growers. Doubtless 
the American and Japanese species have greater unde- 
veloped possibilities, and in certain positive good 
qualities they are already superior to the Domesticas. 
The future no man can predict: but for the present, 
this comparison of the evolution progress of the sev- 
eral classes of plums is certainly fair. 

The Domesticas are specially adapted to a some- 
what restricted range of soil and climate on this con- 
tinent. They prove entirely satisfactory in Nova 
Scotia, central New England, New York, southern 
Ontario and Michigan, and the Pacific coast states. 
Even in these districts they come into sharp competi- 
tion with some of the Japanese and native sorts. 



The Domestica Plums 29 

There are still many persons who do not know 
of any other plums than the Domesticas, — the "blue 
plums, yellow plums and red plums," — and a strong 
prejudice of conservatism attaches other better- 
informed people to the favorite of their fathers and 
grandfathers. Adding these considerations to the 
many really good qualities possessed by the Domes- 
ticas, we may readily see the prematurity of the various 
predictions which we have heard of how they should 
be promptly superseded by the newer plums. 




The Damsons 



HE Damson plums have always 
been classed with the Domes- 
ticas in this country. They are, 
however, almost as distinct 
from the Domesticas as the 
Myrobalan plums are, and the 
two groups are much more 
easily separated than are the 
Wildgoose and the Chicasaw 
groups, for instance. They are sufhciently dis- 
tinct to have been given specific rank by many 
botanists, particularly on the continent of Europe, 
where they are better known. The great botanist 
Linnaeus made this group a botanical variety of 
Primus doinestica, — a disposition which seems to the 
writer to be still the best one. 

From the horticultural standpoint they are to be 
looked upon as a group apart from the Domesticas, 
though closely related to them, just as the Nigra 

30 




The Damsons 



31 




THE BULLA CE 

Sometimes called Prunus insititia, but evidently a Damson 



group is a group by itself, though closely related to 
the Americanas. The two cases are parallel. 

The Damsons have a long history. They have 
been known and recorded ever since botany had a 
record. The presumption is in favor of the common 
theory that they are the progenitors of the whole race 
of Domcsticas. This presumption gains color from 
two facts; first, that Damsons are to-day found grow- 



32 Plums and Plum Culture 

ing wild in quantities in western Europe, (see Koch, 
Die Deutschen Obstgeholze, p. 145); and second, 
that their characters differ from those of the Domes- 
tica plums as those of any wildling plant usually 
differ from those of its cultivated and domesti- 
cated descendants. 

Speculation has sometimes run still further, and 
has surmised that the Damsons were derived from the 
Sloe, Primus spinosa, so that the genesis of the modern 
Domesticas would stand: 

Primus spinosa — P. damascena — P. domestica. 

This pedigree, however is only a surmise. 

The Bullace, spoken of by many writers as a sep- 
arate thing with a botanical specific name of its own, — 
Pruniis insititia, — is evidently to be put into the Dam- 
son group. (See Waugh, Botanical Gazette, 27:478.) 

The Damsons are hardy, thrifty and easy of cul- 
tivation: What is more, they bear regularly and 
abundantly, and there is usually a good demand for 
the fruit, so that they have been found among the 
most profitable plums to grow by many cultivators. 
They have considerable culinary value, especially with 
those persons who have not become acquainted with 
certain varieties among the natives. To the writer it 
seems that Wayland, Moreman and Golden Beauty 
might supplant the Damsons almost altogether, to the 
mutual satisfaction of the cook and the plum grower. 
This may be merely a matter of personal taste, how- 
ever, or it may be nothing better than prejudice. 

The Damsons come fairly true from seed; and 
they have often been propagated in that way. This 
accounts for some of the perplexing variations which 
they present, and for the confusion of varieties. It is 
only within recent years that a few of the better varie- 
ties have been selected and perpetuated by grafting. 




EUROPEAN SLOE. Prunus spinosa 
Possible progenitor of the Damsons and Domesticas 



34 Plums and Plum Culture 

In the various editions of Downing's book, the Dam- 
sons are all treated together in one paragraph. At 
the present time, however, the only way to give a fair 
understanding of the subject is to put the Damsons 
by themselves into a group co-ordinate with the other 
generally recognized horticultural groups, and to de- 
scribe the named varieties and discuss them just as 
all other named varieties are discussed. 




V 



The Myrobalan Plums 




HE Myrobalan species has pro- 
duced a few horticultural varie- 
ties in this country, of which 
Marianna has claimed most at- 
tention. One secures a wrong 
impression of the group, how- 
ever, by studying first the Mari- 
anna. Marianna is not typical, 
it is exceptional, and the group 
should not be treated with special reference to this 
variety. It is especially misleading to call this the 
Marianna group, as some writers have done, myself 
among them. 

The Myrobalan plum is probably an ofifshoot of 
the Domestica tribe originally. It is characterized by 
a more slender growth and a greater ease of propaga- 
tion, by thinner leaves and by softer, thinner-skinned 
fruit. It has been used very extensively in this coun- 
try, as in Europe, as a stock for propagating other 

35 



^6 Plums and Plum Culture 

plums; and most of the cultivated varieties are chance 
survivals from plants primarily set for stocks. 

The Myrobalan plum was described as a par- 
ticular variety in Prince's Pomological Manual (1831) 
and in the first edition of Downing (1845); and the 
name is similarly treated by nearly all the older Euro- 
pean authors. This name, however, does not properly 
apply to any particular variety, but h a group name 
like Damson or Chicasaw. The best types of the 
species which I know among the cultivated varieties 
are Brill and Frostproof. Next to these I would 
name a sort found in some collections as Hogg's No. 
2 (a name which I do not think it worth while to re- 
vise). Yet my friend, J. W. Kerr, thinks this is the 
same as Marianna. Decaradeuc is generally under- 
stood to be pure Myrobalan, and it is probably not 
very far from the type. But Marianna seems to be 
impregnated with a strain of native blood, and im- 
presses one as Myrobalan blended with Chicasaw. 

Professor Bailey has elaborately traced the history 
of the Myrobalan group and of the Marianna as related 
to it.* The close relationship of the Marianna to the 
Myrobalan group is indicated by the ease with which 
it grows from cuttings, in which particular it strangely 
excels the Myrobalan itself. 

Marianna was extensively advertised a few years 
ago and widely planted. This was certainly a mis- 
fortune for everybody, unless the nurseryman made 
some money out of it. Marianna, besides being self- 
sterile, is a poor fruit for orchard purposes. It is not 
good in quality, nor large in size, and is so soft and 
watery as to be of little value when secured. Occa- 
sional well-grown specimens are passable, but the 



*Cornell ExpeHment Station Bulletin 38:32. 1892. Also "Evolution 
of Our Native Fruits." 208. 1898. 



The Myrobalan Plums 37 

variety is not one to be recommended anywhere, ex- 
cept for stocks. The other varieties of the same group, 
as far as I have examined them, are no better. Hattie, 
which is also somewhat anomalous, does not consti- 
tute an exception to this depreciation. With all the 
early advantages which the Myrobalan plum has had 
it would seem as though it might have done better; 
and I do not look for any considerable additions to 
our variety catalogue from this quarter. 

The Pissard plum is generally understood to 
belong to the Myrobalan group, though it is often 
rated as a separate botanical variety (Primus cerasifern 
pissardi). It is notable chiefly for its decorative 
foliage, for which qualitv it receives mention in Chap- 
ter XXV. 

The Myrobalan, however, seems to be of some 
promise for blending with other species in hybridiza- 
tion. Mr. Burbank has sent me specimens of several 
fairly acceptable varieties which numbered the Myrob- 
alan among their miscellaneous parents. There are 
some valuable qualities which are characteristic of 
the species, and if they can be saved while the bad 
qualities are discarded in hybridization, we may still 
live to see the day when we shall be glad, as fruit 
growers and fruit eaters, that we have had the Myrob- 
alan plum. 




VI 



The Simon Plum 



|Ti 



HE Simon or apricot plum, 
Primus simoni, came to this 
country from France about 
fifteen or twenty years ago, but 
it did not attract much atten- 
tion from horticulturists till 
about ten years ago. It is prob- 
ably native to China, though it 
has not been found wild. It 
was sent to the Museum de Paris by Eugene Simon, 
after whom it is named, and who was at that time a 
representative of the French government in China. It 
was first described by Carriere, a French botanist and 
horticulturist, in a French horticultural magazine, in 
1872. The first mention of it in this country seems 
to date from 1881, though there is some doubt about 
the authenticity of the observation. The first impor- 

38 



*' 



40 Plums and Plum Culture 

tant account of it in this country was given by Bailey 
in 1893.* 

The Simon plum seems to be intermediate be- 
tween the apricot and the plums. It is most closely 
related to the Japanese plums, which it resembles in 
several respects and with which it hybridizes freely. 
It is properly to be regarded as a species, though it has 
sometimes been supposed to be a hybrid. Its charac- 
ters and habits are not those of a hybrid, and there is 
nothing else to indicate a mongrel origin for it. It is 
less variable than hybrids usually are. There is only 
one variety of it known in this country, and this is 
commonly called, not by a horticultural name, but by 
the botanical name of the species. 

It has been planted for market in considerable 
quantities by a few persons. Certain growers report 
it profitable, even in New York, though it does best 
in California. It is frequently seen in the markets of 
our eastern cities, coming in early in the season among 
the first of the plums. It looks well, but the quality 
is not good, and it does not sell rapidly. It ships well, 
keeps well and looks well on the fruit stands; and as 
these three qualities are of prime importance in a mar- 
ket fruit, it will be seen that the Simon plum is a thing 
to be reckoned with. 

Probably the greatest value of the Simon plum 
lies in the readiness with which it blends with other 
types in hybridization and in the good results which it 
gives in such cases. "It is the best of all plums for 
hybridizing," says Mr. Burbank ; and his results up to 
the present time amply illustrate this statement. The 
poor qualities of the fruit seem to disappear in hybrid- 
izing, and the good qualities seem to be retained. 
The same thing cannot be said of the tree, however, 

*Cornell Kxpenment Statirm Bmietin, 51:34. 1893. 



The Simon Plum 41 

for the poor quaUties of the Simon tree remain as de- 
fects in some of the hybrids. Yet, when all has been 
summed up, it is clear that this is a very important 
type, taken with our other cultivated plums, and it 
seems certain that it is to play an important part in 
the future evolution of American plum pomology. 




VII 



TJie Japanese Plums 




II T has been almost exactly thirty 
i years since the Japanese plums 
I were introduced into America. 
It has been only sixteen years, 
however, since they began to 
be distributed among fruit 
growers, and it was only six 
years ago that the horticultural 
public began to get a clear idea 
of them. In this short time they have received more 
attention and have been more widely disseminated 
than any agricultural species ever introduced to this 
continent. 

The first trees, according to Bailey, were imported 
from Japan in 1870, by Mr. Hough, of Vacaville, Cali- 
fornia, at a cost of ten dollars each. These trees soon 
passed into the hands of the late John Kelsey of 
Berkeley, California, and were fruited by him about 
1876. The commercial propagation of these plums 

42 



The Japanese Plums 43 

was begun in 1883, by W. P. Hammon & Co., of Oak- 
land, California, and the variety was named after Mr. 
Kelsey. After this several other importations were 
made, especially by Luther Burbank of Santa Rosa, 
California. Very soon seedlings began to appear, 
grown in America, and the catalogue of Japanese 
plums has since been swelling at an alarming rate. 

The Japanese plum is thought to be a native of 
China, though it has never been found growing wild. 
It was first described botanically by Roxburgh, who 
found it in the botanic gardens at Calcutta. Accord- 
ing to Georgeson it is considerably grown in a hap- 
hazard sort of way, without much care or cultivation, 
in Japan. It has not been carefully propagated there 
by buds, and little pains has been spent on the nomen- 
clature of the varieties by the Japanese. This ac- 
counts for some of the confusion which we have to 
labor with in this country. 

The Japanese plums, though so remarkably pop- 
ular in y\merica, seem to be still practically unknown 
in Europe. They have suffered from too great a pop- 
ularity in this country. They have been planted out 
of all proportion to their relative merits. Untested 
varieties have been introduced, boomed and sold to 
planters, where they could be of little or no use. 
Extravagant and fantastic claims have been made for 
them. They have been said to be curculio proof (as 
what plum has not?); they have been called proof 
against black knot; they have been recently heralded 
by a popular horticultural writer as "undoubtedly the 
best in quality of any plums grown." All these state- 
ments are misleading, disappointing, false. Lots of 
folks have forgotten the little prophecy of Professor 
Bailey in his first bulletin on the Japanese plums. He 
said, "We can depend upon it that they will develop 
weak points somewhere." They have, as a matter of 




BURBANK, THREE-YEAR-OLD TREE 
Garden of A. C. Smith, Massachusetts 



The Japanese Plums 45 

history, been found as apt to yield disappointment and 
failure as any other fruit. Still, it is abundantly true, 
to quote again from Bailey, that "the Japanese plums 
constitute the most important type of fruit intro- 
duced into North America during the last quar- 
ter of a century." 

The Japanese plums are strong growers. In fact, 
this becomes almost a vice at times. Some of them, 
particularly Burbank, require the severest heading-in 
to keep them within reasonable bounds. The rapid- 
growing wood is also somewhat brash, like peach 
wood, and apt to break or split at the crotches. The 
foliage is rich, abundant and comparatively free from 
disease. The blossoms appear early, — the first in the 
plum- flowering season. They come so early as to 
run considerable danger of frost, and this is one of the 
defects of the species. The blossoms are abundant, 
large, white, strikingly ornamental and usually very 
strong sexually. The fruit varies greatly in size, color, 
quality and season. In general the fruits are firm, 
excellent shippers and keepers, when not attacked by 
monilia, to which they are subject. They are mostly 
tenacious clingstones. The quality runs fair to good 
and occasionally very good, though in general they 
are inferior to the Domesticas, and, in the opinion of 
the writer, to the best of the natives. They are rapidly 
finding their way into American fruit markets. 

The varieties altogether seem to be a little less 
hardy against cold than the common Domesticas, or 
-about as hardy as the Wildgoose type. Still, the most 
popular varieties thrive in Maine, Vermont, Ontario 
and southern Iowa. 

The Japanese plums are still much misunder- 
stood. Some persons still claim ever3'thing for them, 
while others curse them by every form of available 
profanity. They have not been with us long enough 



The Japanese Plums 47 

to have become adjusted to their proper place. For 
the present a good deal of conservatism should be 
cultivated in speaking to their praise or blame. It is 
safer and wiser to wait and see what is going to 
come of them. 




VIII 

TJic Americana Group 



HIS is certainly the dominant 
group of American plums. 
Were it not for the danger of 
getting into an argument with 
certain worthy persons who have 
expressed a different view, I 
think I should have said also 
that this is the most important 
group. 
However that may be, it is botanically and hor- 
ticulturallv the most prominent type of native plums. 
It spreads over a far wider geographical range than 
anv other species or hybrid family, and it occupies its 
ground within its range with more persistency. The 
type is more stable, — ^harder to break. This is whv 
other native species are just now more prominent in 
hybridization work; but it is no reason why they 
should be more useful in the end. There are more 

48 



911 



The Americana Group 49 

named varieties of the Americanas now propagated 
and cultivated than of any other group of plums, not 
excepting the popular Japanese plums or the old- 
established Domesticas. There are no statistics at 
hand, but I feel sure that there are more acres planted 
to Americanas than to varieties of any other class 
excepting the Domesticas, and possibly the Japanese. 
These statements are not intended to be a recommend- 
ation of the Americana plums, but mere expressions 
of fact. 

In its native forms the species Prnniis amcricana 
ranges from Ohio to Texas, and northward to Minne- 
sota and Montana. Along the northern border of this 
range and eastward in New York state it shades away 
insensibly into Primus amcricana nigra (the Nigra 
group"). Horticulturally the Americana plums range 
from Prince Edward Island, Manitoba and Vancou- 
ver to Florida, Louisiana and Texas. In the southern 
part of this* range, however, they are not very success- 
ful. They can hardly be recommended as profitable 
for orchard planting south of the 37th or 38th parallel. 
Over a large area, however, especially in northern 
Iowa, Wisconsin, northern Michigan, Minnesota, the 
Dakotas, Montana and that part of Canada between 
Ontario and Vancouver, they are practically the only 
plums that can be grown. In extremely exposed sit- 
uations they are almost the only fruit of any kind that 
will thrive. The northern limit of their cultivation 
has not yet been reached. They, with the Nigras, will 
probably be able to go as far north as the land can ever 
be cultivated. Professor C. C. Georgeson of Sitka, 
Alaska, writes me that he has seen no plums growing 
in that country, but I have not the slightest doubt but 
that the Americanas and Nigras will succeed per- 
fectly there. 

The indigenous Americanas grow usually along 



50 Plums and Plum Culture 

creek or river banks, in deep, rich, comparatively 
moist soil, sometimes under the partial shade of taller 
timber, but sometimes also in the open sun. The rea- 
sons why the plum is thus confined to the creek banks 
are the same that account for all other trees having a 
similar distribution in the prairie states. It is princi- 
pally because recurring prairie fires and grazing herds 
of buffalo formerly killed out all the young timber as 
fast as it started on the uplands. Nevertheless, the 
Americana plums really prefer deep, rich, compara- 
tively moist soil, — just such situations as they found 
in their native state. Still, they flourish on almost 
any soil and with almost any exposure, and withstand 
drouth on windy uplands as well as any tree. 

The pomological characteristics of this group are 
as follows: 

Tree usually rather low-headed, spreading, with a 
thick, thorny, bushy top ; rather slow-growing, though 
young trees and water sprouts often make a phenome- 
nal growth; branches stifif and strongly set, rather 
crooked, dark colored. The tops are very difficult to 
manage on young trees, and it is always a serious 
problem to form a good head, especially where trees 
are exposed to strong winds. fSee further under prun- 
ing, Page 276); leaf large, oval, thick and rough, occa- 
sionally pubescent (var. mollis), but usually without 
covering, with large jagged double teeth on the mar- 
gins (this character is very distinct) and usually with- 
out glands on the petiole; flowers medium to large size, 
white; the calyx without glands on the margin: fruit 
of various forms, but usually more or less oval, very 
often slightly compressed, rather frequently slightly 
oblique-truncate at the ends ; cavity usually shallow or 
very shallow; suture seldom more than a line; color 
mostly dull reds over yellows, the yellow sometimes 
showing more than the red; dots nearly always very 



The Americana Group 5 1 

minute, hardly visible, never large and conspicuous; 
bloom almost always thick and bluish, skin thick, 
tough and usually astringent; flesh always yellow; 
stone meduun to large, round or oval, more or less 
flattened, mostly cling; quality good to extra good, 
aside from the astringency of the skin. 

Several of these points demand further discussion. 

The flowxrs appear comparatively late in the sea- 
son. They are not very strong sexually. Various 
anomalous forms frequently occur. Extensive exam- 
inations, made by the writer, of blossoms from all 
parts of America showed an average of 21.2 per cent 
with defective pistils. This defectiveness ranged from 
nothing in some varieties to 100 per cent, in others. 
Defective anthers are sometimes found, though more 
seldom. One tree at least is known on which the 
flowers have no petals. The flowers are sometimes 
proterandrous, and rather frequently proterogynous.* 
Sometimes the styles are longer than the stamens, and 
sometimes the stamens are longer than the styles. 
These variations are so striking that Heideman based 
an elaborate classification upon them and proposed 
to explain the affinities of the varieties in pollination 
by this method. (See under pollination. Page 282.) 
These variations, however interesting, do not seem 
to have any practical sic^nlficance. 

The fruit of the leading varieties is of fair size. In 
fact, it is large enough for the general market. Some 
of the better kinds well g-rown are large enough for a 
fancy trade: and their handsome appearance makes 
them still more acceptable. Two qualities detract, 
however, from their value as fruits for the fancy mar- 
ket and for dessert purposes. These are the thick, 
astringent skins, and the clinging stones. 

*Blossoms in M^hich the pollen matures before the pistil is ready 
to receive it are called proterandrous: those in which the pistil becomes 
receptive before the pollen is mature are called proterogynous. 



52 Plums and Plum Culture 

Regarding the first point, it should be said that 
the astringency of the skin has often been magnified 
by persons unaccustomed to these plums and who 
have eaten them too green. In many varieties, when 
thoroughly ripe, the skin is neither thick nor un- 
pleasantly astringent. The faintest suggestion of this 
characteristic plum taste is altogether pleasant and 
adds a richness of flavor to the fruit which the best 
horticultural epicure might well patronize. Professor 
Goff says, 'When divested of the skin, the flesh of the 
finer sorts is scarcely surpassed in richness by that of 
any of the stone fruits. In some varieties, as the 
Mankato and Gaylord, the skin separates very readily 
from the ripe fruit. The skin of the Cheney and 
Ocheeda practically dissolves in cooking, and that of 
the Aitken and a few other sorts is so thin and delicate 
when the fruit is ripe that the skin is no more objec- 
tionable than that of the finest European or Japan 
sorts.*' T have said elsewhere that, in my opinion, the 
finest quality known among plums, — that is to say, in 
the whole kingdom of fruits, — is to be found in some 
of the fine Americanas, when they are "just right." 
Other plums are more meaty, some are sweeter, many 
are better for eating out of hand, but the fine 
"bouquet" of flavors presented by the Americanas 
cannot be surpassed. 

Most of the varieties are clingstones, and the few 
freestones seem to me not to be the varieties of highest 
flavor. There are, however, several respectable varie- 
ties in which the .stones are as free as could be desired. 

Are the Americanas salable? They are. The 
large, highly-colored Domesticas and Japanese varie- 
ties are preferred at the fruit stands, and doubtless will 
long continue to be. There are, too, many cooks who 
prefer the old-fashioned plums like Lombards and 
Damsons, largely because they are used to them. 




.MR. O. M. LORD of :\Iinnesota 

Interested in the introduction of the Americanas. The trees at the back 
are De Sotos 



54 Plums and Plum Culture 

There are buyers, too, who select plums solely on their 
size, and the Americanas are not the biggest plums 
known. There are instances on every hand, however, 
to prove that the Americanas find a profitable market. 
Many cases have come to my knowledge in which 
they were bought in preference to Domesticas or Jap- 
anese plums, and sometimes at a higher price. It is 
merely a matter of growing good fruit and educating 
the buyers to it. 

The Americana plums are very fruitful. In fact, 
overproduction is frequently a grievous sin with them. 
They often require extensive thinning. If this is not 
given, the fruit is small and unattractive. And it not 
infrequently happens that trees left unthinned kill 
themselves with overbearing. Cases of unfruitfulness 
are very rare, and are usually explained by lack of 
pollination or other local conditions. 

Many of the remarks made here concerning the 
Americanas, especially as regards their culinary value, 
their salability and their productiveness, apply also to 
the other principal groups of native plums. 

The Americana group is burdened with varieties. 
There are literally hundreds of them named and more 
or less disseminated. Three-fourths of these could be 
eliminated without loss. In fact, it would be a posi- 
tive gain to pomology, as not more than one-fourth 
of the varieties are really meritorious. Of the remain- 
ing one-fourth, another fifty per cent, or more could 
readily be dispensed with on the ground of close re- 
semblance to other varieties. Indeed, it is easy to find 
two to a dozen varieties so closelv alike that the best 
expert can hardly detect any difference. It must 
come to pass very soon that many of the old varieties 
will be discarded and the names forgotten. It hap- 
pened so with the Domesticas and it will surely be the 
case presently with the Americanas. 




IX 

The Nigra Group 



HE Nigra group is not of great 
importance. Though it is suf- 
ficiently distinct to be called a 
separate species by several emi- 
nent American botanists, and 
though it has yielded three or 
four first-rate horticultural va- 
rieties, it has not the striking 
characters nor the economic 
value to fix it very prominently in our attention. 

The wild plum of Canada and New England was 
first noticed botanically by Aiton, who described it as 
a species with the name Pnimis nigra in 1789. It was 
lost sight of in this country for several years through 
being consolidated with Primus americana. More re- 
cently this group has been thought to be distinguish- 
able from P. americana, and Alton's name has 

55 



\M ! 




TYPICAL WILD TREE OF THE NIGRA TYPE 
Burlinglon, Vt. 



The Nigra Group 57 

been revived by such botanists as Sargent, Britton 
and Sudworth. 

The present writer, as elsewhere explained, has 
taken a compromise view. The Nigra group seems 
to me to be fairly distinct and manageable pomologi- 
cally, to be different enough from Pniniis amcricana 
to deserve separate botanical mention, but still to be 
so closely related to the latter species as to be best 
understood when called a variety of it. 

Whatever the standing of the group botanically, 
it will be convenient to keep it as a separate pomologi- 
cal group, in spite of the fact that many of the varie- 
ties are very difficult to assign with certainty either to 
the Nigra or the Americana group. This was first dis- 
cussed as a separate group by the writer in 1897.* 
The characters which may be relied on to distinguish 
varieties of this section. in most cases are: Dark-col- 
ored bark; glandular serrate calyx lobes; broad leaves 
with glandular petioles; flowers larger than in the 
Americana group, often pinkish, and especially show- 
ing pink when half opened, the calyx lobes being also 
pink; fruit usually darker colored than in the Amer- 
icana group. 

In their habits and in most of their pom.ological 
characteristics, these varieties are much like those of 
the Americana group. They are exceedingly hardy, 
being probably the hardiest fruit plant known on this 
continent. Still, the Americanas are hardy enough 
for any section where any sort of farming can be 
carried on. 

* Vermont Experiment Station Report, 10:102. 1897. 




X 

The Miner Group 



HIS group Is one of secondary 
importance, occupying a some- 
what uncertain position be- 
tween the Wildgoose group 
and the Americanas. From 
the circumstance that Professor 
Bailey first described it as Prii- 
nus hortiilana mineri, making it 
an appendage of the Wild- 
goose group, it has been commonly looked upon 
as most closely related to the latter. The varieties in 
general, however, stand much nearer to the Ameri- 
canas, — so near in fact that Professor Sargent refers 
them to Pniniis americana and entirely ignores P. 
hortulana mineri. 

It is probable, however, that the varieties of this 
group, like those of the Wayland and Wildgoose 
groups, are of mongrel origin. They may be hybrids 
of the Wildgoose type with the Americanas, which 

58 




The Miner Group 



S9 



would give them, — theoretically, — a parentage three- 
quarters Americana and one-quarter Chicasaw. Or 
they may be primary hybrids in which the Americana 
parentage has preponderated. The latter supposition 
is perhaps the more probable; though one supposition 




BLOSSOMS OF MINKK 



might be true for one case and the other for a dif- 
ferent case. 

The foliage of the plums of the Miner group is 
much like that of the Americanas, but usually smaller 
and not so rough, with less conspicuous dentation of 
the margins. The fruit is usually rounder, the skin 
less dull colored, thinner and not so tough; the dots 
larger and more obvious; the stone thicker. 

The varieties seem to be about as hardy as the 
Americanas. Several of them are of commercial value, 
especially Forest Rose, Prairie Flower and Miner. 




XI 

TJie Wayland Group 




T the beginning of critical plum 
study in this country, that is to 
say, in the publication of Pro- 
fessor Bailey's bulletin 38, in 
1892, these plums were in- 
cluded indiscriminately with 
the Wildgoose plums in the so- 
called species Pniiius hortnlaua. 
Mr. T. V. Munson seems to 
have been the first to call attention to their separate- 
ness. In his trade catalogue of 1896, I think 
it was, he advertised the varieties Wayland 
and Golden Beauty, referring them to Scheele's Primus 
rivnlaris. Mr. Munson's view, that these plums be- 
longed to a group somewhat apart from Wildgoose, 
Downing, etc., accorded entirely with the opinion just 
then forming in my own mind. In the summer of 
1897 I gave the whole series diligent study in the field, 
becoming fully confirmed in this view. 

60 



The Wayland Group 6i 

The question now arose what to call the group. 
Mr. Munson had referred the varieties to Prunus 
riviilaris. Was he correct in this? And was P. 
rivularis an acceptable name from the botanical stand- 
point? These questions wxre examined in detail, and 
my conclusions published at that time (1897).* Since 
then I have given the group much more extensive 
study, have monographed the horticultural varieties t 
(aside from re-monographing them for the present 
work), and have examined practically all the herba- 
rium specimens in America which could throw light 
on the question, including duplicate types of Scheele's 
Primus rivularis. Concerning the relationship of the 
Wayland group to Scheele's species name, the case, as 
it now stands in my mind, is as follows. 

Scheele described his Prumts riridaris In 1848$ 
from specimens collected in Texas by Lindheimer in 
1846. The name was first used in this country by 
Coulter in 1891 in his Botany of Western Texas. § It 
was here, I take it, that Munson noted the name and 
description. The distribution assigned to P. rivularis 
by Coulter was as follows: "Not uncommon on the 
Colorado and its tributaries and extending to the upper 
Guadalupe and the Leona." 

It seems a trifle odd, even at first sight, that an 
important species could exist in a comparatively ac- 
cessible country like western Texas, and there be yet 
so few specimens of It In our large herbaria. In the 
second place. If we refer Wayland and Golden Beauty 
to this species name, we must add Kanawha, Leptune, 
Reed, and several others. These plums, however, 

*Garden and Forest, 10:350. 1897. 

tVermont Experiment Station Report, 11:281. 1898. 

JLinnaea 21:594. 1848. 

fUnited States Nat. Herb. Cont. 2:102, 1891. 



62 Plums and Plum Culture 

have originated in various localities. So far as known 
their origin is as follows: 

American Golden Missouri. 

Crimson Beauty Texas. 

Cumberland Tennessee. 

Garfield Ohio. 

Golden Beauty Western Texas. 

Kanawha Kentucky. 

Nimon Northern Texas. 

Reed Illinois. 

Sucker State Illinois (?) 

Wayland Kentucky. 

It will be seen that these points cover a much 
wider range than that assigned to Priinus rizndaris. 
It can hardly be supposed that a distinct species of such 
importance as to furnish these well-known varieties 
could be growing in the woods of Missouri, Illinois, 
Kentucky and Tennessee without being known to bot- 
anists. What, then, is the genealogy of the horticul- 
tural varieties in question? Let us recall the discus- 
sions of a previous chapter. 

It will be seen by referring to Chapter XV that 
there is good reason for believing that natural hybrid- 
ization has played an important part in the history of 
the wild plums on this continent. The entire group 
once described as a species with the name Prnnus 
hortidana may reasonably be called a congeries of nat- 
ural hybrids. The varieties of the Wayland group 
were at first included in the so-called species P. hortii- 
hina. May they not, in fact, have originated in the 
same way? 

It seems almost necessary to take the affirmative 
view. If we accept the hypothesis of a hybrid origin 
for the Wildgoose group, we must also conclude that 
the Wayland group has a similar origin. The same 
arguments apply to both. These arguments briefly 
reviewed and adapted to this group are: (i) The Way- 



The Wayland Group 6^ 

land plums are in many respects intermediate between 
the Chicasaws and the Americanas (especially Pniniis 
americana mollis). (2) They have originated in the 
territory where these two supposable parents occur, 
and especially in the region where the variety mollis is 
occasionally found. (3) They do not have any con- 
tinuous geographical distribution of their own. 

Let us now return to the consideration of Primus 
rivularis. Scheele undoubtedly had one of these plums 
of the Wayland group when he described his supposed 
species. The duplicate types which I have examined 
would be referred to the Wayland group by any ex- 
pert pomologist or botanist, I think. If we were to 
call the Wayland group a species, Scheele's name 
should be given to it. Prumis rivnlaris would super- 
sede P. horfulana by right of several years' priority, for 
this section of the Hortulanas at least. But if we call 
the Wayland group a company of hybrids, we need 
not use any species name. It is better, indeed, to give 
them some convenient pomological name, — to call 
them, for instance, the Wayland group. 

This matter of naming the group was carefully 
considered before I first published the name here 
used.* These varieties are sometimes called the 
Peach-leaved plums ; but the same designation is care- 
lessly and perhaps more often applied to all the Hortu- 
lanas. In the south they sometimes speak of the 
Golden Beauty type. But Golden Beauty is practi- 
cally unknown northward. The variety best known in 
northern states is Moreman: but besides being prac- 
tically unknown in the south, this variety is not strict- 
ly typical of the group. No other variety of the entire 
lot shows more clearly the distinctive characters of the 
group, and none is more widely known than Wayland. 

*Vermont Experiment Station Report, 10:103. 1897. 



64 Plums and Plum Culture 

For these reasons it has seemed best to use this name 
to designate the entire group. 

The general characters of the Wayland group, 
especially those of pomological importance, may be 
pointed out as follows : 

Trees fairly strong growers, with long, smooth, bending, 
willowy branches, the bark usually dark colored* ; leaves large 
to very large, oval or sometimes slightly obovate, with taper 
points, glabrous above and finely tomentose beneath, espe- 
cially on the larger veins, margins rather finely appressed- 
serrate, petioles with two to six glands ; flowers appearing 
comparatively late, in long, dense clusters of characteristic 
form. The buds are especially characteristic ; clear white ; 
fruit usually strikingly spherical, or only a trifle ovoid or 
ellipsoid, medium size, either bright transparent cherry red 
or else whitish transparent 3'ellow. quite different from the 
opaque yellow of Kelsey or Coe Golden Drop, dots usually 
large, whitish and conspicuous, bloom white, stone medium 
size, rather turgid, cling. The quality averages high. The 
flesh is almost always very firm and meaty. 

Considering its origin, this group is comparatively 
distinct and homogeneou3. For instance, the varieties 
are much more alike than those of the Wildgoose 
group, and- much more distinct from other varieties 
of other groups than are the Miner-like varieties. To 
be sure, the group is not free from puzzling or equiv- 
ocal forms. There are some varieties which it is hard 
to locate. Bailey put Lepttme into the Miner group; 
and Rerckmans, who introduced Kanawha, said, ''This 
is beyond question a form of Primus amcricana." 
Still, confusion has been much less frequent in this 
group than in almost any other class of native plums. 

These varieties are particularly adapted to certain 
climates, especially in the middle and southern states. 



*Certaiii varieties are described by nurserymen in the extreme south- 
ern states as having light colored bark. This may be due to the well- 
known fact that all species of trees have much lighter colored bark at 
the south than at the north. 



66 Plums and Plum Culture 

They are not desirable dessert fruits, nor are they good 
for eating out of hand. They are especially fine for 
preserving or spicing, after the manner traditionally 
employed with Damsons. For making jelly nothing 
within the knowledge of the writer excels the red- 
fruited varieties like Wayland and Kanawha. Nearly 
all the varieties are so distinctly superior for preserv- 
ing, spicing and jelly making, that they might always 
command a patronage for these purposes alone. The 
great firmness of flesh which is characteristic of most 
of these plums makes it possible to ship them long dis- 
tances in large packages to market, which is another 
item of importance to many fruit growers. The ex- 
treme lateness of ripening of many of the varieties 
makes them valuable for certain conditions, though it 
throws them out of consideration for points north of 
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, or Burlington, A^ermont. The 
varieties are generally more hardy than the Wildgoose 
or Chicasaw plums. Some of them will succeed as 
far north as Burlington, Vermont, and even Golden 
Beauty, considered a distinctively southern variety, 
often fruits in Iowa and is fairlv hardv in Vermont. 




XII 

The Wildgoose Group 



UR knowledge of the Wildgoose 
group dates from 1892. In that 
year Professor Bailey described 
Priimis horfulana'^ as a species 
and included in it these plums 
and those now put into the 
Wayland group. Later in the 
year he published a full horti- 
cultural account of these 
plumsf which for the first time brought them promi- 
nently to the attention of the pomological world. 

The description of the group given at that time 
was as follows: "This, perhaps the most important 
group of native plums, includes varieties character- 




*L. H. Bailey. Garden and Forest, 5:90. 1892. 
fL. H. Bailey. The Cultivated Native Plums and Cherries, Cornell 
Experiment Station Bulletin 38:16. 1892. 

67 



68 



Plums and Plum Culture 



izecl by strong widespreading growth and mostly 
smooth twigs; a firm, juicy, bright-colored, thin- 
skinned fruit, which is never flattened; a cUnging, tur- 
gid, comparatively small, rough stone, which is some- 
times prolonged at the ends but is never conspicu- 
ously wing-margined, and by comparatively thin and 
firm shining, smooth, flat, more or less peach-like, 
ovate-lanceolate or ovate long-pointed leaves, which 
are mostly closely and obtusely glandular-serrate, and 
the stalks of which are usually glandular. 




BLOSSOMS OF SOPHIE 
Somewhat reduced 



"The varieties are intermediate between the 
Americana and Chicasaw groups. The fruits lack 
entirely the dull-colored, compressed, thick-skinned 
and meaty characters of the Americanas, and ap- 
proach very closely to the Chicasaws. They are 
usually covered with a thin bloom and are more or less 
marked by small spots. They are variable in period 
of ripening, there being a difference of no less than 
two months between the seasons of some of the culti- 
vated varieties. In color they range from the most 
vivid crimson to pure golden yellow. The botanical 
features of the species are not yet well determined, and 



The Wildgoose Group 69 

it is not impossible that more than one species is con- 
founded in it." 

This description suits the Wildgoose type as un- 
derstood to-day, though the view presented in 1892 
may now be modified in two important technical par- 
ticulars. First, we regard Primus hortulana no longer 
as a species in the ordinary acceptation of the term, 
but as a conglomerate company of natural hybrids. 
Second, several varieties at first included in the Wild- 
goose group are now referred to the Wayland type, 
and discussed in the preceding chapter. 

Plums of the Wildgoose group are largely planted 
for home use and market in some localities, mostly 
south of Mason and Dixon's line. They thrive much 
farther north, however, and are sometimes success- 
fully and profitably grown as far north as Massachu- 
setts and Kansas. Thev can be grown even farther 
north. (See Chapter XXXII.) The fruit is solid and 
ships well, and its bright red color and transparent 
skin make it very attractive, so that it ordinarily sells 
well. The blossoms appear abundantly at a season 
about midway between the Chicasaws and the Ameri- 
canas. In general they are remarkably self-sterile, and 
some provision for cross-pollination is to be regarded 
as a necessity. Their special sexual affinities and ec- 
centricities are discussed further in the chapter 
on pollination. 




XIII 



The Chicasaws 




Tl HE Chicasaw plums have a char- 
j acteristically southern range, 
the natural northern limit of the 
species being along the line 
from Delaware to Kentucky. 
Through the southern Atlantic 
and Gulf states it is widely 
distributed, being found in 
dense thickets along streams, at 
the edges of fields and in various situations, frequently 
near human habitations. 

From various evidences it seems possible that this 
species is not native in the southern states, but was 
introduced there by the Indians. If this be true, the 
geographical origin of the Chicasaws is very uncer- 
tain. Their southern range indicates a southern ori- 
gin, and it is thought that perhaps they came from 
Mexico. This supposition loses force, however, from 
the fact that no indigenous species of plum is now 

70 




H. A. TERRY of Iowa 
Originator of many of our best native-bred plums 



11 Plums and Plum Culture 

known in Mexico, except certain straggling specimens 
which have crossed the Rio Grande river from Texas 
and New Mexico. After all, except for a few sus- 
picious cnrcumstances, the Chicasaw plum behaves 
like an indigenous species in the southern states. It 
makes itself thoroughly at home, holding its own ter- 
ritory in competition with native species, and for all 
practical purposes may be considered as belonging 
there. 

The tree is rather small, occasionally reaching 
a hight of twenty to twenty-five feet, with a diameter 
of four to five inches. But usually it takes the shrubby 
form, growing five to ten feet high, and branching 
from the bottom. It also throws up many suckers 
from the roots, so that the trees or shrubs are com- 
monly found in dense thickets. 

The branches are slender, sometimes rather zig- 
zag, lustrous when young, but becoming grayish after 
the second year. Occasionally they are a trifle thorny, 
by the suppression of short side branches. The leaves 
are small and shining, trough-shaped and minutely 
serrate with glandular teeth. The petioles are some- 
times glandular. The flowers appear rather early. In 
the orchard they bloom next after the early Japanese 
varieties and with the later sorts of that class. Cluck, 
however, is distinctly late blooming, and a few other 
varieties are not specially early. The blossoms are 
small, white and abundant. In general they are more 
vigorous sexually than the blossoms of Prnnrts ameri- 
cana, bearing more abundant pollen and showing fewer 
defects in the female organs. The pollen seems to be 
very prepotent, not only upon other varieties of the 
Chicasaw group, but upon those of the Wildgoose 
and Japanese groups, and upon some varieties of the 
Miner and Americana groups. 

The fruit is mostly spherical or spheric-oval and 



The Chicasaws 73 

without a suture. The colors are lemon yellow and 
clear bright red, the latter predominating. The fruits 
are nearly always marked with many large, conspicu- 
ous yellow dots, and have a thin whitish bloom. The 
flesh is always yellow, juicy and somewhat stringy, 
with a sprightly vinous flavor. The stones are nearly 
round, and are always turgid, — that is, thickened, in- 
stead of being flattened sidewise like many of the 
Americanas and Nigras. So far as I know they are 
all clingstones. The fruit is often gathered from the 
wild trees, and is used for jellies and preserves. 

The species does not usually succeed well north 
of its natural limit, though several of the varieties do 
fairly well in western New York. Pottawattamie, 
which seems to be considerably hardier than the 
others of this group, succeeds as far north as central 
Iowa and Vermont. For general orchard planting, 
however, the Chicasaws are not to be recommended 
north of New York, Wheeling, West Virginia, Cin- 
cinnati, St. Louis and Kansas City. 




XIV 

The Sand Plum 




HE sand plitm is a personal 
friend of mine. This fact may 
prejudice the following bio- 
graphy, though I freely admit 
that the sand plum is not a 
pomological wonder. Still, this 
was the first plum I knew, and 
it was a good friend in those 
days when we lived on the 
untamed prairies of Kansas and went yearly into the 
sand hills along the Arkansas river to the plum 
harvest. 

The sand plum is a dwarf, rather unsymmetrical 
bush, ranging from two to six feet in hight. Its 
stature is what chiefly distinguishes it from the com- 
mon Chicasaw plum. Pjesides being dwarfer than the 
ordinary Chicasaws, it has smaller leaves and blos- 
soms, and the stems have often a more zigzag ap- 

74 




SAND PLUMS 

Gathered from the wild trees, Manhattan, Kansas 



76 Plums and Plum Culture 

pearance. There are no test characters by which these 
plums can be separated with certainty from the true 
Chicasaws. Still, they are sufficiently distinct to- be 
considered by themselves and to have, been made a 
separate species by Professor Sargent. 

In a wild state the fruit is comparatively very fine. 
While all native species of plums seem to have been 
gathered from the wild trees and used with consid- 
erable satisfaction by early settlers, no other plums 
seem to me to have served the pioneers so well. 

The sand plum is found wild chiefly in Kansas 
in detached areas on the sandy lands along the Arkan- 
sas and Republican rivers. It is said to occur also in 
southwestern Nebraska. It is occasionally found in 
Oklahoma, and there is good reason to believe that it 
reaches also into the Texas panhandle. 

A letter written me by Mr. D. M. Adams of Sum- 
ner county, Kansas, contains so much information 
about these plums that I venture to reproduce it en- 
tire. He says: 

"This plum grows wild in this country along the Arkan- 
sas river. The best patch of wild ones I have seen was on 
the bank of the Arkansas at the mouth of Slate Creek, a few 
miles above Gueda Springs. There was about forty acres in 
the patch that had been left in its natural state. The ground 
looked like a barren sand bank. There was no grass, weeds, 
or any other shrubbery except a few wild grapevines. It was 
a hot day in August. The sand was so hot that the boys 
could not walk over it in their bare feet. The bushes grew 
down to high-water mark in the river. Most of the hills were 
about ten feet above the level of the river. The person that 
owned the land sold the fruit and let us pick it. They watched 
and had it picked clean as they went. It was about the middle 
of August. They had been picking for a month, and thought 
that there would be "plums there for another month. The 
bushes were from three to six feet high. The plums were 
brown, the size of a May cherry, the size of Damson plum. 
Some were a bright scarlet, the color of a cherry, others were 
a bright yellow, or amber color. Where they had not been 
picked, the bushes were bending to the ground with their load 
of fruit. The fruit was so thick as almost to hide the l^^ves. 



The Sand Plum 77 

It was the grandest sight in the fruit line that I ever saw. 
They looked like a large flower garden at a short distance. 
We cultivate them in our yards and gardens. All you have 
to do is to set out a few bushes. Soon they will spread until 
they will make a thicket that one cannot walk through. When 
they are in bloom they look like a bank of snow. They begin 
to ripen about the same time that wheat does, and continue 
to ripen for six weeks to two months. They do not all ripen 
on the same bush at once. There will be ripe ones and others 
perfectly green on the same limb at the same time. They are 
one of the best fruits for cooking that grow. We have a patch 
of four or five square rods. It gives us all we want while 
they are going, and then we have a supply for canning. 
Here is one of the most valuable fruits. Chickens prefer them 
for a shelter to anything else, both in hot and cold weather. 
We have a tight straw shed, open on the south side. Days 
when it was below freezing, the chickens would stay in the 
plum patch in preference to the sunny shed. Some of the 
small-sized plums have a bitter taste, still are very juicy and 
acid. I do not know how they will succeed further north. 
Since I have been here I have sent several lots of seeds and 
roots to different ^^arties in different states, but have never 
got reports from any of them. I sent a lot of seed to a nurs- 
eryman in Indiana. He advertised them in his catalogue as 
'Kansas Dwarf plum.' " 

Only a few varieties have been propagated by 
nurserymen, and none of these has attained any repu- 
tation. The wild plants have very often been taken 
into cultivated gardens by settlers in Kansas, but they 
have seldom thrived under cultivation. The sand 
plum does not seem to be adapted to a wide diversity 
of soils or climate. In Maryland it blights badly with 
monilia. Still, this group of dwarf plums is so inter- 
esting and so promising in some ways that one cannot 
help expecting something of it in the future. 




I.UTIIER BURBANK of California 
Famous plant breeder and originator of many fine plums 




XV 



TJic Hybrid Plums 




YBRID plums first really claimed 
the notice of American pomol- 
ogists in 1893, when Luther 
Burbank offered for sale his 
varieties, Golden and Juicy, 
with certain others which have 
become less well known. Two 
years later several supposed 
hybrids produced by J. S. 
Breece, of F'ayetteville, North Carolina, were de- 
scribed in the report of the United States Pomologist. 
These were Garnet, Lannix, Monolith, Scribner and 
Sirocco. These have not yet been generally intro- 
duced. Since 1895 numbers of hybrids have been 
brought to light by Luther Burbank of California, W. 
A. Yates, F. T. Ramsey, A. L. Bruce and T. V. Mun- 
son of Texas, G. L. Taber of Florida, J. L. Normand 
of Louisiana, Theo. Williams of Nebraska, C. E. Pen- 

79 



8o Plums and Plum Culture 

nock of Colorado, J. S. Breece of North Carolina 
and others. 

The number of introductions in this class is rap- 
idly increasing. In the fall of 1898 the present writer 
published the first general discussion of the hybrid 
plums. "^ In this bulletin notes were given of 50 varie- 
ties for which a hybrid origin had been suggested, a 
few of which were decided not to be hybrids, but most 
of which were thought to be authentic. 

The career of the hybrid plums was thus fairly 
and ofificially begun. An epoch in plum development 
was opened. No one can foresee the consequences; but 
anybody who considers the case in its various bearings 
will readily see that there are wonderful possibilities in 
the hybridization of plums. Hybridity has played an 
important role among American grapes; but the cir- 
cumstances all promise more important results from 
the crossing of plums. 

It will be well to recur at this point to present 
beliefs, elsewhere set forth, regarding the origin of the 
great Hortulana series, comprising the Wildgoose, 
Wayland and Miner groups. These are now thought 
to be natural hybrids in various degrees of combination 
between Pnuius aiiicricana and P. an gusti folia. We 
thus find that plums hybridize freely when growing 
wild in the woods. Abundant evidence recently accu- 
mulated goes to show that they also hybridize exten- 
sively when grown together in the orchard. With 
certain favorable combinations of species growing to- 
gether (e. g., Prunus fri flora with P. angusti folia), 
probably a large majority of the fruits are cross polli- 
nated; and if the seeds be planted the resulting oflf- 
spring will show more hybrid than purebred 
specimens. 

* Vermont Experiment Station Bulletin No. 67. 1898. 



The Hybrid Plums 8i 

It is partly on this account that we find the hybrid 
plums often occurring in groups of three, or six, or ten 
varieties of a kind. Thus Mr. Breece, of North Caro- 
Hna, has a group of Triflora-Hortulana hybrids; the 
late D. H. Watson, of Texas, raised a very homoge- 
neous lot of Triflora-Angustifolia hybrids. Mr. J. L. 
Normand of Louisiana has grown a similar series. 
Even among the multifarious productions of Mr. Bur- 
bank, one cannot help noticing the prominence of the 
Triflora-Simonii crosses. Both in nature and in cul- 
tivation, hybrid plums seem to occur in groups. 

How shall we know a hybrid plum? This is 
sometimes a difficult question. The views of the 
author have been elsewhere set forth, but it seems 
proper to repeat them here. There is a strong preju- 
dice in almost all quarters against admitting the hybrid 
origin of any plant except upon the most indubitable 
evidence. This is a good, conservative, scientific prin- 
ciple, but it may be carried too far. It is rather a near- 
sighted way of looking at the matter, though not un- 
common, to think that careful hand-pollination of 
emasculated blossoms, followed by painstaking rear- 
ing of the seedlings, furnishes the only basis upon 
which hybridity can be really certified. We are taught 
by all our theories, and know from observation of the 
facts, that hand-pollinations made with the greatest 
care give very uncertain results. The offspring when 
secured may resemble one parent alone, in which case 
the strong presumption is that the hybridization was 
a failure. That is, the extrinsic characters of the plant 
are relied upon for the final proof of its parentage. 

This overturns at a stroke all our prejudices, but 
it puts the subject in its proper light. On the whole, 
the practical horticulturist cares very little whether 
a plant is a hybrid or not, unless its visible characters 
show some evidence of its pluri-specific parentage. 
6 



82 Plums and Plum Culture 

With plants occurring wild, the distribution of a 
strange form is an important evidence of hybridity, as 
in the case of Prunus hortiilaiia; and for a study of hy- 
bridity in general, authentic pedigrees are indispensa- 
ble; but for all practical, and for most scientific pur- 
poses, intermediateness of character is the only practi- 
cable and the most reliable test of hybridity. 

The greatest caution, however, must be exercised 
in following out this rule. It will not do to jump at 
conclusions in such an intricate matter. No one can 
determine at the first glance whether the characters 
of a new variety are drawn from several definable 
sources. It is often difficult to decide what the rela- 
tionships of a given variety are, even after long study 
of all the characters of plant, foliage, blossom and 
fruit. It is a very serious problem to classify some 
varieties which belong to only one species! Before the 
pomologist refers a new plum to two species, he must 
give the evidence his most searching scrutiny. 

In the present work the hybrid plums are put into 
a group by themselves. It will be increasingly diffi- 
cult and unsatisfactory, as time goes on, to maintain 
this group and to mark its boundaries. There is noth- 
ing homogeneous about a group labeled ''hybrid 
plums." What does a hybrid plum look like? Why, 
like Pniniis siiiionii, or perhaps like a Chicasaw, or 
maybe like an Americana. It is necessary, therefore, 
if we are to tell anything about the varieties which we 
classify as hybrids, to add something to the classifica- 
tion. When we say a plum belongs to the Wayland 
group, any plum expert has a pretty good idea of what 
the variety is like. But when we say a variety is a 
hybrid, he knows nothing about it. 

The natural way to classify a hybrid is to name 
the parents from which it has sprimg. But such a 
classification is misleading unless the hybrid variety 



The Hybrid Plums 83 

partakes of the characters of the parents to which it is 
referred. To be sure, it is quite possible that a hybrid 
may have sprung from two given parents and still show 
the characters of neither. And though this would be 
an important fact, it is entirely aside from the matter 
of classification, and classification is of the greater im- 
portance. So that, whatever precautions m*ay be nec- 
essary in studying the physiology of hybridity, the 
characterization and classification of hybrids depends 
on intermediateness of extrinsic characters alone. 
Classification is, first of all, a systematic presentation 
of apparent resemblances and differences. 

A hybrid, then, is to be classified by referring it 
to the several species whose characters it exhibits. 
But different hybrids of the same parentage may ex- 
hibit their several characters in various combinations* 
or in different degrees. It is the business of the 
pomologist to point out these different combinations 
and degrees in his descriptions. 

One of the important questions for the plum 
breeder, and one of the interesting ones, too, for the 
pomologist, is. What are the limits and affinities of 
varieties in crossing? 

It may be proper to introduce some remarks re- 
garding the utility of the various species in hybridiz- 
ing. It is, of course, too early to draw conclusions. 
The following remarks partake more of the character 
of a prophecy, — what some folks call guesswork. 

Prunus domestica. — This species is comparatively diffi- 
cult to hybridize. It may be hoped, however, that it will give 
good results. The solid, meaty flesh and the freestone char- 
acter of leading Domesticas are especially desirable for com- 
bination with the higher flavor, better color, freer growth, and 
other desirable qualities of native species. The writer looks 
with especial favor upon the combination of Domestica with 
Americana parents. 

The Damsons. — The author sees no probability of good 
results from hybridizing the Damsons with anything. 



84 Plums and Plum Culture 

^ The Myrobalan group. — Several varieties have been ex- 
amined which undoubtedly partake of Myrobalan stock. None 
of these, however, has shown any promise of filling an impor- 
tant place in the pomological field. Still this stock seems to 
be especially favorable for bridging over the gap between the 
Domesticas on the one hand and the Japanese and American 
varieties on the other. The Myrobalan varieties seem to 
hybridize in both directions without much difficulty; and 
through their intervention we may be able presently to effect 
certain desirable combinations which now seem difficult or 
impossible. 

Prunus simonii. — '"'The best of all the plums in hybridiz- 
ing," says Mr. Burbank, and his results seem to justify him 
in the opinion. Although Prunus simonii itself is regarded by 
most horticulturists as a very worthless thing it seems to have 
a thoroughly respectable progeny. The peculiarly disagreeable 
taste which characterizes the parent seems never to be present 
in hybrid offspring. Instead one has a firm, meaty flesh, with 
a rich, sweet, sugary flavor. The size, color and flesh of the 
Simon plum are all desirable, and though it is hardly probable 
that other hybridizers will have the same success with this 
species that Mr. Burbank has had, it has nevertheless fully 
proved itself worthy of consideration. 

Prunus triHora. — The Japanese plums cross with other 
groups with great facility, especially with the Chicasaws and 
Hortulanas. Crossing with the Chicasaws, however, seems 
inclined to give fruits with soft, stringy, watery flesh clinging 
to the stones. These are among the more undesirable char- 
acters of the Chicasaws, and might be wisely avoided by using 
other combinations. Although it is much more difficult to 
combine P. trUiora with P. americana, the results are likely 
to prove much better. The good character of the Triflora 
Simonii crosses is especially to be remarked. 

Prunus angustifoUa. — The Chicasaws cross readily with 
several other groups, in fact, with almost everything. They 
do not seem, however, to bring any very desirable characters 
into such combinations, and though a few promising Chicasaw 
hybrids are on record, this species cannot be recommended 
for hybridization. 

The Wildgoose group. — The remarks made regarding the 
Chicasaws apply in the main to the Wildgoose group. The 
latter are to be preferred, however, in making hybridizations. 

The Wayland group. — These varieties are perhaps a little 
better adapted to the needs of the plum breeder than are the 
Wildgoose sorts. 

The Miner group. — These so closely resemble the Ameri- 
canas as to have most of their good qualities. They seem to 



The Hybrid Plums 85 

combine more readily with other groups, however, and are to 
be regarded with favor. 

Prunus americana. — The finest flavor known in plums be- 
longs unquestionably to the Americanas. The firmness of flesh 
and hardiness of tree are also qualities of paramount practical 
importance. Partly on account of their late-blooming season, 
and partly perhaps on account of a lack of affinity for other 
species, they do not hybridize so readily in the orchard. For 
the same reasons they are not so convenient for the plant 
breeder. In spite of this they are among the most promising 
plums for the production of valuable hybrids. 




XVI 

Other Kinds of Plums 




ESIDES the types of plums 
already described, there are 
several which are, for the pres- 
ent, of minor consequence in 
the pomology of America. 
They all hold unknown possi- 
bilities, however. No one may 
prophesy what good things we 
shall yet see developed from 
them. Already the plum amateurs are gathering 
them into their gardens, the experimenters are cross- 
ing and blending, improving and selecting, and the 
nurserymen are hungrily waiting for some novelty to 
introduce. The following list is not absolutely com- 
plete, but it numbers all those types which have 
been sufficiently cultivated to have any interest for 
the horticulturist. 

The Beaeh Plum. — This is undoubtedly the most 
important native species vet unconsidered. It is rep- 

86 



Other Kinds of Plums 87 

resented by a large and variable species, Primus 
maritima, ranging from New Brunswick to Virginia, 
and occurring again in a detached area at the head of 
Lake Michigan. From ^'irginia southward into Ala- 
bama, the same type is represented by what Dr. Small 
calls another species, and which he names Pruniis 
injiicunda.^ The examination of a limited amount of 
material, however, leaves me with the opinion that this 
so-called species is rather to be considered as a closely 
related sub-group of the Beach plum. At any rate, 
it represents the same general class. Another closely 
related type is Primus graz'csii, also described by Dr. 
Small. This is found only on a very restricted area 
near ,New London, Connecticut, and does not promise 
to be of much immediate value to the plum breeder. 

There are other rather striking variations among 
the Beach plums which have not yet been described 
botanically.f All these divergencies from the main 
type, however, have a special interest for the plum 
student, because they show the natural variability of 
the species. It is a species very apt to break out in 
new forms; and it doubtless holds many strange possi- 
bilities yet in store. Several of our best plum special- 
ists are now at work with this group, and are full of 
faith that they shall some day reap some good results. 

The fruit of the best wild forms of the Beach plum 
is round, black, abotit half an inch in diameter, and 
fairly agreeable to the taste. It does not seem to have 
been collected and used for ctilinary purposes so often 
as most wild plums; but I doubt if this is the fault of 
the fruit itself. It has been due rather to circum- 
stances, I fanc}^ 

There is a single named variety of the Beach plum 
in commerce. This is Bassett (Bassett's American). 

*John K. Small. Torrey Bot. Club Bulletin, 25:149. 1898. 
tSee Vermont Experiment Station Report, 12:234. 1899. 



88 Plums and Plum Culture 

Others have been selected, but have thus far been 
propagated only by numbers or other temporary 
designations. 

The Pacific Plum. — One of the most interesting of 
our native species is the Pacific pkim, Prunus sub- 
cordata. This grows in the elevated regions of southern 
Oregon and northern California. It has been noticed 
and the fruit gathered by settlers, and attempts have 
been made to bring it into cultivation after the same 
manner as all the other prominent native species. Pro- 




BASSETT 

The best cultivated type of the the Beach Plum 



fessor Wicl^son says of it:* 'This must be regarded 
as one of the most useful of our native fruits. Even 
now, when the plum varieties of all the world have been 
introduced, residents in some of the Sierra regions of 
California, where an excellent variety (kcUoggii) 
abounds, prefer it to the cultivated fruit, both for eat- 
ing and for preserving and jelly making." 

Luther Burbank also considers this a promising 
type, and uses it freely in his Hybridizing experiments. 



California Fruits, s^ ed., 39. 1899. 



Other Kinds of Plums 89 

I have seen several interesting hybrids which he has 
produced by combining this with various other species. 
This type more closely resembles the European plums 
of the Domestica group th^an any other of our Ameri- 
can species. The fruit is comparatively large, the 
flesh firm, and the quality uncommonly good. The 
only cultivated variety of this type of which I have 
ever heard is the one mentioned by Bailey* under the 
name of Sisson. 

The Oklahoma Phim. — This is a name which I have 
here appHed for the first time to an interesting native 
species which has hitherto never been able to afiford 
the luxury of an EngHsh name. The botanical name, 
Prtnms gracilis, has no special appropriateness. It 
grows from southern Kansas to northern Texas and 
eastward to Tennessee, but reaches its principal devel- 
opment along the Cimarron river in Oklahoma and 
eastward in the Indian Territory. It is a dwarf, rather 
harsh-leaved, small-fruited plum, more closely re- 
sembling the Beach plum than any other. In fact, the 
two species seem to be near relatives. The fruit is some- 
times gathered and sold in the local markets, and has 
about the same culinary value as inferior grades of the 
wild Americanas. The plant has some ornamental 
value; and the fruit is good enough to give promise of 
improvement. The type is variable like the Beach 
plum, and the variations, strangely, seem to run in the 
same lines. There are no named varieties. 

The Alleghany Plum. — This is a small, straggling 
tree or bush, which grows wild over a restricted area 
in Penns3^1vania. Professor Bailey says: *Tts merits 
as a fruit-bearing plant seem to be so inferior to those 
of the Americana plums, that I do not look for any 
attempt to ameliorate the species for many years to 



^Evolution of Our Native Fruits, 216. il 



Other Kinds of Plums 91 

come." Professor Sargent, however, presents a more 
hopeful view. He says that "the fruit is collected in 
large quantities, and is made into excellent preserves, 
jellies and jams, which have a considerable local con- 
sumption. It . . . possesses considerable culi- 
nary value, and . . . will probably be improved 
by selection and cultivation." It seems to me to be 
one of the least promising of the native species. 
There are no cultivated varieties. 

The Southern Sloe. — The few specimens of the 
Southern sloe, Pnimis unibellata, which I have seen, 
were not prepossessing. The fruit is small and hard 
and bitter. It grows on a small tree of ten to twenty 
feet in hight, with leaves resembling the narrow-leaved 
forms of the Beach plum. It is distributed from South 
Carolina to southern Arkansas and Texas. The fruits 
are sometimes gathered and used, but are generally 
held in small esteem, and is suggested by one of the 
vernacular names. Hog plum. I have never seen this 
plum in cultivation. 

The Dzvai'f Cherries. — Mr. Pennock's Improved 
Dwarf Rocky Mountain cherry is about the only va- 
riety in cultivation representing another interesting 
type of plum, or dwarf cherry. This is derived from 
the western form of the dwarf sand cherry, Priimis 
pnmUa hcsseyi. This type, which grows from Nebraska 
eastward, has been the subject of many experiments. 
Numerous selections have been made from it, and 
several hybrids have been produced. None of the for- 
mer has been named, so far as I know, except the one 
mentioned above. Of the hybrids, the one which has 
attracted the most attention is the so-called Compass 
cherry, described in this work among the hybrid plums. 

The plant is dwarf, bushy, variable and fruitful. 
It has many of the qualities which a plum breeder 
would naturally look for. Besides this, it is exceed- 



92 



Plums and Plum Culture 



ingly hardy, so that it has had a special attractiveness 
for the fruit growers of the cold northwest. This is a 
part of the reason why it has been so urgently tested 
as a garden fruit. With all the work still being given 
to it, it would be strange if no further advances should 
be made. 




THE SAND CHERRY. Prunus pumila 
From Vermont 



The eastern form of the sand cherry, the typical 
Prunus pumila, is even dwarf er than the western form, 
with smaller leaves and smaller fruit. It is not entirely 
worthless or without promise as a fruit plant; but com- 
pared with other species it has never appeared to be of 
so much value as to attract the attention of plum 
breeders. It is still here; and perhaps some day it, too, 
will render an account in its own behalf. 

The Choke Cherry. — The common choke cherry, 



Other Kinds of Plums 93 

Primus virginiana, has some medicinal value; but it 
has also some culinary value. When the fruits are 
perfectly ripe they are not bad to eat out of hand. The 
slight bitterness which they still retain is rather agree- 
able than otherwise. Good jelly can be made from the 
fruit if taken before it is too ripe; and first-class cor- 
dials and liqueurs may be distilled from it by the man 
who knows how. The choke cherry has been culti- 
vated more or less at dififerent times ; and though it has 
never been recommended as a profitable garden crop, 
the persons who have grown the occasional trees have 
doubtless reaped some satisfaction for their labors. 
Some special variations have been noted among these 
cultivated choke cherries, — for instance, a white-fruit- 
ed variety, — but none of these has been named. 

The Black Cherry. — I once heard a man recom- 
mend the black cherry for ague. His directions were 
these: "You should put five of the cherries in a five- 
gallon demijohn of good whisky, and drink some 
every half-hour till you feel better." "But it seems to 
me," I said, "that five cherries is rather a small pro- 
portion." "Not at all," he replied; "they are the most 
important part of the prescription. As soon as you 
put them in the demijohn they will sink to the bottom; 
and then the idea is to get to the cherries just as soon 
as possible!" 

Mr. Sudworth records that this species is some- 
times called the whisky cherry. I have never heard, 
however, of its being cultivated for the purpose 
mentioned. 

It is a noble forest tree in some parts of the United 
States, and produces perhaps the most valuable wood 
of any native species; but as a fruit tree it is so inferior 
that I fear it will never gain a place in the orchard. 




XVII 

The Donicstica Plums Named and Described 




GEN (Prune d'Agen, French prune. 
Petite prune). — Fruit oval, slightly 
pear-shaped ; size small ; cavity shal- 
low ; stem slender, rather long; su- 
ture faint ; color reddish purple ; 
dots many, white ; bloom bluish ; 
flesh greenish-yellow ; stone long 
oval, hardly flattened, free ; quality 
good to best, season late. Tree not 
a large grower, but usually fairly 
productive. 

Of European origin. In the prov- 
ince of Agen, France, they cultivate prunes extensively, the 
staple sort being of the type of our Agen, or Prune d'Agen, 
described above. But it appears to the writer that, like other 
striking old types, this one has taken on considerable variations. 
It has doubtless often been reproduced from seed. Numerous ref- 
erences to this plum may be found in European literature. (The 
reader may consult especially Bruguiere, Le Prunier, chap. i). 
The variety as grown in this country seems to be fairly uniform, 
however, and is identical with the principal French type of 
this name (Cf. Wickson, California Fruits, 3d ed., p. 276). It 
is probably the most important drying prune grown on the 
Pacific coast. In the eastern states it has no reputation except 
as an amateur's plum. Its high quality recommends it to the 
fruit lover. 

94 



The Domestica Plums Described 



95 



Angouleme (Reine Claude d'Angouleme). — Fruit round; 
size ■ medium ; cavity shallow, flaring ; stem stout, rather 
long ; suture faint ; apex slightly depressed ; color dull 
green, tardily turning creamy yellow ; dots minute, light col- 
ored ; bloom white ; flesh greenish ; stone small, round, mod- 
erately flattened, free ; flavor rich and sweet ; quality excel- 
lent; season of Green Gage. 

This variety does not seem to be distributed in the United 
States, but I have included this description, made from a fruit - 




AG EN 



ing tree in the collection of Ellwanger & Barry, Rochester. 
The variety is much like Green Gage, but is free. 

Arch Duke. — Fruit oval, with a neck; size large; cavity 
medium size, deep, abrupt ; stem medium ; color dark blue ; 
dots numerous ; bloom heavy, bluish ; flesh yellow ; stone 
small, oval, cling ; flavor sub-acid ; quality good ; season 
medium late. 

Imported from England eight or ten years ago by S. D. 
Willard of western New York, and thought by him to be a 
good market plum. 

Arctic (Moore's Arctic). — "Tree rather vigorous, with an 
upright, round head, and with branches somewhat spreading. 



96 



Plums and Plum Culture 



Fruit roundish, oval ; stalk three-fourths inch long, slender ; 
cavity very slight; apex hardly noticeable; suture indistinct; 
color black, with a thin, blue bloom; flesh tender, juicy, yel- 
lowish amber, very firm, nearly sweet ; pit small, oval, nearly 
free. Season August i6; size, medium. A hardy and gener- 
ally productive variety, but the fruit is much too small for 
market purposes." — Michigan Experiment Station Bulletin 
169:241. 

This variety has been heavily advertised and widely sold 
in the last few years. Aside from being hardy, it seems to 
have no special recommendation. 

Bavay (Bavay's Green Gage, Reine Claude, Reine Claude 
de Bavay). — This variety is often unnecessarily confused with 
Green Gage. It is larger, later, and a stronger grower. The 
trouble is that both names, Reine Claude and Green Gage, 
stand for a certain group of plums, as well as for certain spe- 
cial varieties. The history of this group and its general char- 
acters are fully discussed elsewhere, and need not be entered 
into now. This variety, which has come to be called Bavay 
in this country, but which really ought to be called Reine 
Claude, is an old, old European variety. In fact, no one can 
tell just when this or the present variety known as Green 
Gage originated and began to be propagated by grafting in 
their exact present forms. 

This is one of the finest plums known, and is indispensable 
for home use. It is also valuable for certain markets, though 
it has not been found so profitable a shipper as brighter colored 
varieties. 

Belle (Belle de Septembre). — A large, late, reddish pur- 
ple handsome old European variety of no special distinction, 
but still retained in some collections. 

Bittern. — Fruit oval, with a slight neck ; size small ; color 
purple; dots few, minute; bloom bluish; skin thick; flesh 
firm, greenish; stone long, oval, cling; flavor brisk, sub-acid; 
quality good ; season late summer. 

This plum was sent by S. D. Willard to the United States 
division of pomology, from whose report the foregoing descrip- 
tion is taken. 

Bi.EEKER (Bkeker's Gage). — Fruit round, oval; size 
medium large ; cavity shallow, rounded ; stem rather long ; 
suture shallow ; color creamy yellow ; dots many, small, yel- 
low ; bloom white; skin thin; flesh yellow, firm, meaty; stone 
medium size, round-oval, rough, thick, cling; flavor rich and 
sugary ; quality extra good ; season early ; tree a tall upright 
grower. 

Originated at Albany, New York, with a Mrs. Bleeker 
many years ago. It was formerly very popular and still de- 
serves to be wherever the Domestica plums succeed. 



The Domestica Plums Described 



97 



Blue Imperatrice. — Fruit 
heart-shaped; size medium to 
large ; cavity medium shallow, 
rounded ; stem an inch or 
more long, rather slender ; 
suture shallow ; apex pointed ; 
color dark blue ; dots several, 
sharp, yellowish ; bloom blue ; 
skin tough ; flesh yellow ; 
stone medium size, oval, ob- 
tuse-pointed, flattened, nearly 
free ; quality good to best ; 
season late, hanging on the 
tree long after ripe. 

An old European variety 
and an excellent late market 
plum. Very productive. 

BoDDAERT ( Boddaert's 
Green Gage). — Fruit nearly 





BLEEKER 



BLUE IMPERATRICE 

spherical ; size, medium ; cav- 
ity medium deep, rounded ; 
stem an inch long, pubes- 
cent ; suture faint ; color 
creamy yellow ; dots greenish 
and pinkish ; bloom white ; 
skin thin ; flesh yellow ; stone 
round-oval, small, not flat- 
tened, free ; quality good ; 
season medium ; tree vigor- 
ous, moderately upright. 

A variety brought over 
from Europe and belonging 
plainly with the Green Gage 
type. 

Bradshaw (Blue Imperial, 
Niagara?). — Fruit obovate; 
size medium to large, de- 
pending on cultivation ; cav- 
ity shallow, usually with a 
ring about the stem; stem 
about an inch long; suture 
shallow; apex rounded; 
color dark purplish red; 



98 Plums and Plum Culture 

dots several, large, yellowish; bloom blue; skin strong; flesh 
greenish-yellow ; stone rather small, long oval, with a neck, 
slightly flattened, nearly free ; flavor rich and sweet ; quality 
good ; season medium ; tree a good grower. 

Origin undetermined. Niagara is generally thought to be 
the same thing, though this is disputed by some. 

Bryanston (Bryanston's Gage). — Fruit oval or round- 
ish; size medium; cavity shallow; stem rather stout; suture 
shallow ; apex a trifle de- 
pressed ; color dull greenish- 
yellow, with a darker shad- 
ing in the sun ; bloom light ; 
flesh yellow ; stone cling ; 
quality good to very good; 
season late. 

Belongs to the Green 
Gage group and presents no 
points of superiority over 
Bavay. 

Clyman. — Fruit round- 
ish ; size medium ; suture 
distinct; apex slightly flat- 
tened ; color dark purple ; 
bloom heavy, bluish ; flesh 
firm, yellow ; stone free ; 
quality good ; season early. 

A seedling grown by Mrs. 
Clyman in the Napa Valley. 
California, in 1866. 

Columbia. — 'Fruit round : 
size medium ; cavity me- 
dium deep, rounded ; stem 
medium long; suture shal- 
low ; color blue ; dots sev- 
eral, dull yellow ; ^ bloom BRADSIIAW 
bluish ; flesh greenish-yel- 
low ; stone round-oval, but little flattened, nearly free; quality 
good; season moderately late. 

Originated many years ago with L. U. Lawrence, Hudson. 
New York. 

CoMMUNiA. — The same as Lombard, or very nearly like it. 

Copper. — Fruit oval ; size medium ; cavity shallow ; 
suture none; color metallic-bluish; quality good. 

Of European origin and somewhat recently boomed in this 
country, though long ago known here. Thought by some to 
be a good market plum. The name, Copper, has been applied 




The Domestica Plums Described 



99 



to several different varieties in this country. The one here 
described is the one generally grown in New York and 
Michigan'. 

Czar. — Fruit round-ovate; size medium to large; cavity 
narrow ; stem, half an inch long, slender ; suture a line ; apex 
slightly depressed ; color dark purple ; bloom bluish ; flesh 
yellowish, firm; stohe free; flavor sweet and pleasant; quality 
good; season early; tree vigorous and upright. 




COLUMBIA 



This has been recently planted in western New York ancj 
is thought to have some value. 

Deaton. — Fruit rounded; size medium large; cavity 
deep, abrupt ; stem medium, stout ; suture shallow ; color 
greenish-yellow ; dots a few, large, yellow ; bloom whitish ; 
skin tender; flesh greenish; stone medium size oval, not 
flattened, cling; quality good. 

A new seedling of Green Gage from Iowa. Introduced by 
J. Wragg & Son, Waukee, Iowa. 

Loft. 



lOO Plums and Plum Culture 



De Caisne. — This variety I know only from the descrip- 
tion in the catalog of Ellwanger & Barry, which says, "Very 
large, yellow, excellent, resembles Golden Drop, but ripens 
much earlier." 

Diamond. — Fruit oval; size medium to large; cavity 
medium deep, abrupt; stem short, stout; suture shallow; 
apex slightly pointed ; color blue; dots minute; bloom blue; 
stone medium size, oval, oblique at both ends, slightly flat, 
cling; quality fair; season medium. 

Of English origin. 

Drap d'Or (Cloth of Gold). — Fruit round; size medium 
or smaller; cavity shallow; .stem slender; suture indistinct; 




DEATON 



color yellow ; dots a few, some reddish ; bloom thin, white ; 
flesh yellow; stone free; flavor rich and sugary; quality 
very good; season early. 

Very much like Green Gage, but a week earlier. An old 
European variety, now hardly known in America. 

DuANE (Duane's Purple). — Fruit irregularly egg-shaped ; 
size large to very large ; cavity shallow, rounded ; stem slen- 
der, medium long; suture shallow; color red or purplish, like 
Lombard, but a little darker, changing to dark blue; dots 
several, large; bloom whitish or gray; skin rather tough; 
flesh light yellow, meaty ; stone medium size, oval, blunt, 
rough, slightly flattened, cling or nearly so; quality good: 
season early ; tree vigorous. 



The Domestica Plums Described lOi 

Originated with James Duane, Duanesburgh, New York. 
A deservedly popular plum wherever the Domesticas succeed, 
and favorably known in Europe. 

Emily May. — The following notes are from Craig : Fruit 
received from Lillian A. Trotter, Owen Sound, Ontario, Can- 
ada. Form oval, slightly egg shape ; size large ; cavity deep, 
narrow ; stem stout ; suture a well marked groove ; apex flat- 
tened ; surface smooth; color clear, light yellow; dots want- 
ing; bloom very thin, lilac; skin thin; flesh firm, melting, 
tough next stone; stone small, surface rough, free; flavor 
delicate, primrose ; quality good. 




DIAMOND 

A large, handsome plum, of Pond seedling type, but of 
better quality. 

Englebekt (Prince Englebert). — Fruit regular oval; size 
medium ; cavity shallow to medium, rounded ; stem slender ; 
suture faint ; color blue ; dots many, distinct, light colored ; 
bloom blue ; flesh yellow ; stone medium size, oval, moder- 
ately flattened, rough, free ; quality good ; season medium or 
early; tree a good grower; bears heavily in small' clusters. 

Field. — Fruit oval ; size large ; cavity small, narrow ; stem 
an inch long; color dark blue, almost black; bloom blue; flesh 
gieenish-yellow ; stone cling; quality good; season medium. 

Said to be a seedling of Bradshaw, which it resembles in 
some respects. 



I02 



Plums and Plum Culture 



FoTHERiNGHAM. — Fruit obovate ; size medium ; suture 
distinct ; color reddish-purple ; bloom bluish ; flesh greenish- 
yellow ; stone free ; quality good ; season medium. 

An old English variety, little grown here. 

Galopin (Violette de Galopin). — Fruit spherical or 
slightly oblate; size medium; cavity shallow, rounded; stem 
short and stout ; suture shallow : color blue ; dots many, con- 
spicuous ; bloom blue ; flesh yellow ; stone medium size, oval, 
with a short neck, 
slightly flattened, near- 
ly free ; quality fair to 
good ; tree rather poor 
and straggling. 

This European va- 
riety does not seem to 
be known in this coun- 
try, but I have ven- 
tured to include this 
description, made from 
a specimen in the col- 
lection of Ellwanger & 
Barry, Rochester, New 
York. 

Giant (Giant 
Prune). — A very large 
plum introduced by 
Luther Burbank in 
1893. Wickson thus 
describes it: "Very 
large, dark crimson on 
yellow ground ; flesh 
yellow ; flavor good ; duane 

freestone ; a shipping 
plum ; rather disappointing as a drying plum." 

German Prune. — Fruit long oval; size small to medium; 
cavity very shallow ; stem rather slender, medium long ; suture 
hardly more than a line ; apex somewhat pointed ; color blue ; 
dots a few, scattered; bloom blue; flesh greenish or slightly 
yellow; stone small, oval, pointed, moderately flattened, very 
free; quality hardly more than fair; season medium; tree 
strong, tall grower, productive. 

One of the very oldest varieties known, being grown over 
wide areas in Europe since before the beginning of horticul- 
tural history. It has often been grown from seed, and this no 
doubt accounts for the fact that there are a number of dif- 
ferent plums passing under the name of German Prune. The 
foregoing description is made from the stock tree of Ellwanger 





ENGI.EBERT 



104 



Plums and Plum Culture 



& Barry, Rochester, New 
York, which is marked "True 
German Prune," and which 
is probably the most reHable 
type in America. The variety 
has been very popular for 
commercial planting, for what 
reason is more than I can 
say. There are certainly 
many better market plums to 
choose from at the present 
day. 

Glass (Glass Seedling). — 
Fruit irregular, round-oval ; 
size medium to medium 




GOLDEN DROP 



FIELD 

large ; cavity shallow, wide, 
flaring ; stem rather long ; 
suture a line ; apex slightly 
depressed ; color blue ; dots 
white ; skin thick, firm ; 
bloom blue ; flesh greenish ; 
stone oval, pointed, flatten- 
ed, cling; quality fair; sea- 
son medium. 

Originated with Alexan- 
der Glass, Guelph, Ontario. 
Very similar to Quacken- 
boss. 

Golden Drop (Coe's Gold- 
en Drop, Silver Prune). — 
Fruit oval, with a short 
neck, the two halves un- 
equal ; size large to very 
large ; cavity very shallow 
and abrupt ; stem medium 
long, stout ; suture deep ; 
apex somewhat depressed ; 
color golden yellow ; dots 
very many, yellow; bloom 



The Domestica Plums Described 105 

yellow, flesh firm, meaty; stone medium large, long, pointed, 
somewhat flattened, ribbed at the edge, half free; quality good; 
season medium late; tree a good grower, with large coarse, 
rough foliage. 

An English variety, highly prized there and here, and an 
important commercial prune on the Pacific coast, where it is 
incorrectly called Silver prune. It is, however, hardly suitable 
for general planting in the eastern states. 




GOLIATH 



Golden Prune. — Fruit long, oval ; size large ; cavity very 
small and abrupt ; stem short, stout ; suture shallow ; color 
creamy, yellow ; dots many, yellow ; bloom thin, gray ; skin 
thin ; flesh yellow, firm ; stone medium size, oval, rough, nearly 
free ; quality fair to good ; season medium. 

A seedling of Italian prune, grown by Seth Lewelling of 
Milwaukee, Oregon. 

Goliath. — Fruit round or round-oval ; size medium to 
large, depending on cultivation and crop ; cavity medium, 
gently rounded ; stem short, stout, pubescent ; suture shallow ; 



io6 



Plums and Plum Culture 



color dark red or purplish; dots several, distinct, yellowish; 
bloom blue; flesh greenish-yellow; stone medium large, 
round-oval, blunt, winged, slightly flattened, free; quality 
fair; midseason. 

Grand Duke. — Fruit obovate; size large to very large; 
cavity narrow, shallow; stem an inch long; suture rather 
deep ; color very dark blue ; bloom heavy, blue ; flesh yellow, 
firm; stone oval, hardly flattened, cling; quality good; season 




GRAND DUKE 



late ; tree moderately vigorous, with a spreading, open head. 
Regarded by many as one of the very best late shipping plums. 

Green Gage. — Fruit spherical ; size medium ; cavity shal- 
low and abrupt; stem medium long; suture faint; color dull 
greenish-yellow ; dots minute and faint ; bloom white ; skin 
thin; flesh white; stone small, round-oval, oblique, pointed, 
somewhat flattened, usually cling, but sometimes more or less 
free ; quality good to extra good ; season medium ; tree small. 



The Domestica Plums Described 107 

This is one of the oldest known varieties (see history in 
the chapter on the Domestica plums). It is smaller and earlier 
than Bavay. One of the most popular culinary plums ever 
grown for home use. Should be in every home garden. 

GuEii (Blue Magnum Bonum). — Fruit oval, cordate; 
size medium; cavity shallow; stem an inch long, pubescent; 




GREEN GAGE 



suture shallow ; apex somewhat pointed ; color blue ; dots 
none visible ; bloom blue ; flesh greenish-yellow ; stone me- 
dium size, round-oval, oblique-pointed, cling; quality fair; 
season medium. 

Supposed to have originated with a Mr. Hagaman, Lan- 
singburgh. New York, and named after John Goeway, by 



io8 



Plums and Plum Culture 



whom it was largely grown. In recent years it has become a 
popular market plum in New York state. 

Hand (General Hand). — Fruit round; size medium to 
large; cavity shallow; stem slender, medium long; suture 
shallow ; apex slightly depressed ; color dull greenish, finally 
becoming a golden orange ; dots minute and indistinct ; bloom 
white; skin thin; flesh yellow, rather soft; stone medium 
large, oval, blunt, point- 
ed, cling ; flavor rich and 
sweet ; quality good to 
best ; season September 
in this latitude ; tree very 
large and rank and in- 
clined to be a shy bearer. 
Supposed to have orig- 
inated on the farm of 
General Hand, near Lan- 
caster, Pennsylvania. A 
magnificent dessert plum, 
though unprofitable to 
grow. Green Gage type. 

Harlow. — Fruit oval ; 
size large ; color red to 
dark purple ; dots numer- 
ous, small ; bloom light 
blue ; flesh greenish, 
melting; flavor mild sub- 
acid ; season early. 

Originated with S. C. 
Harlow, Bangor, Me(?), 
A seedling of Bradshaw, 
and much like that va- 
riety, but earlier. (See United States Department of Agri- 
culture Pomologist's Report, 1892.) 

Harney. — Fruit roundish; size large; cavity large, deep, 
abrupt; stem about one-half inch long; suture shallow; color 
purplish-red; dots large and small; bloom thin, lilac; skin 
thin, tough ; flesh pale yellow ; stone medium size, roundish, 
nearly free; quality good. (See United States Department 
of Agriculture Pomologist's Report, 1895:45.) 

Heron. — Fruit roundish ; size above medium ; color cop- 
pery, dull ; dots minute ; bloom bluish ; skin harsh, acid ; flesh 
greenish-yellow, firm; stone wide oval, large, nearly free; 
quality good; season late summer. 

Described by United States division of pomology from 
specimens from S. D. Willard, New York. 




HAND 



The Domestica Plums Described 109 

Hudson (Hudson River Purple Egg). — Fruit long, oval: 
size large ; cavity medium deep, abrupt ; stem long ; suture 
shallow ; color red to purplish-red ; dots numerous, small ; 
bloom bluish ; skin thick ; flesh greenish-yellow, firm ; stone 
large, long, pointed, cling; quality good; season medium. 

Origin, New York(?). 

HuLiNGS (Hulings' Superb). — "Fruit very large, round- 
ish-oval, with a distinct though shallow suture ; stalk strong 
and stout, set in a round, small cavity ; skin rather dull green- 
ish-yellow, thinly covered with a pale bloom ; flesh greenish- 
yellow : rather coarse, but with a rich, brisk, sprightly flavor, 
adhering to the stone; good; middle of August; tree very 
vigorous, upright." — Description from Downing. 

Hungarian (Hungarian Prune of Downing, not of the 
Pacific coast; Datte d'Hongrie). — Fruit long, narrow, oval; 
size small to medium ; cavity hardly any ; stem long, slender, 
pubescent ; suture very shallow ; apex pointed ; color dark 
blue ; dots blue ; bloom blue ; skin thin ; flesh greenish-yellow ; 
stone medium size, long, slender, pointed at both ends, ridged 
at the edge, free; quality poor; season September in New York. 

There is a disconcerting list of candidates for the name 
of Hungarian or Hungary. It is impossible to clear up the 
synonymy satisfactorily at this time, but the principal refer- 
ences may be noted. They are as follows : 

1. The variety called Hungarian prune, with the synonym 
Datte de Hongrie, by Downing, in the appendix of his work, 
page 156. This is apparently the Datte d'Hongrie still grow- 
ing under that name in the collection of Ellwanger & Barry, 
and is probably the plum really entitled to the name. It is the 
one described and illustrated here. 

2. The variety commonly called Hungarian prune on the 
Pacific coast is Pond. 

3. The Date plum, or Quetsche de Hongrie, described by 
Downing (ed. 1881, p. 908), the description being taken from 
the Pomological magazine. This cannot now be identified, 
but is certainly a very dififerent variety. 

4. The Hungarian grown bv the Michigan experiment 
station and described in their publications (Bulletin 169:245), 
from which the following description is arranged : Fruit 
round; size medium to large; cavity medium; stem half an 
inch long; suture slight; apex often slightly depressed; color 
dark blue or black; bloom blue; flesh yellowish, firm; stone 
round, not flattened, free; flavor mild and pleasant; quality 
good ; season medium ; tree vigorous, productive. 

This last plum came to the Michigan station from Pro- 
fessor Budd, and is probably his Ungarish. In a bulletin of 
the Iowa agricultural college, dated January, 1886, Budd notes 
this variety as coming from C- H. Wagner, Riga, Russia. In 



no 



Plums and Plum Culture 



the same bulletin he notes another plum as coming from Wil- 
helm Wohler, Wilna, Russia, under the name of Quetsche de 
Hongrie, and suggests the name Hungary for this also. Pos- 
sibly these two are distinct. Possibly the first is the same as 




the variety noted by Gibb in the report of the American pomo- 
logical society for 1887 as Quetsche de Hongrie, or Zwetsche 
Ungarische, and for which the name Hungary is suggested. 

IcKWORTH (Ickworth Imperatrice).— Fruit obovate; size 
medium or large; stem medium; color purple, marked with 



The Domestica Plums Described 1 1 1 



yellowish tracings; flesh greenish-yellow; stone small, cling; 
quality good ; season late. 
Origin, England. 

Imperial Gage. — Fruit round-oval; size medium; cavity 
shallow, broad, flaring; stem an inch long, pubescent; suture 
shallow ; color yellowish-green ; dots green ; bloom whitish ; 
skin tough ; flesh reenish-yellow stone round-oval, only 




ITALIAN PRUNE 

slightly flattened, rough, nearly or quite free; quality good to 
best ; season medium. , t-i i • 

Originated many years ago at Prince's nurseries, Flushing, 
T.ong island. It has enjoyed a considerable popularity. 
Downing tells of a single tree near Boston which had "pro- 
duced fruit, to the value of nearly fifty dollars annually." It 
seems to be waning in favor, however. 

Italian Prune (Fellenberg).— Fruit elliptical, straighter 
on one side and longer on the other; size medium^ to large; 
cavity very shallow; stem nearly as long as the fruit; suture 



"N 



T T 2 Plums and Plum Culture 

shallov/; color dark blue; dots not many, dull yellow; bloom 
blue; skin thin; flesh greenish-yellow; stone medium size, 
oval, pointed, rough, ridged at the edge, quite free; quality 
good to extra ; season late ; tree rather spreading. 

An old European variety. One of the most widely grown 
plums in America. A prime favorite market plum in Nev- 
York and Michigan and on the Pacific slope. Desirable on 
account of its lateness and good shipping quality. 

Jaune Hative. — Fruit oval or obovate ; size small ; cavity 
shallow ; stem one-half inch long, slender ; suture shallow ; 
color yellowish ; bloom thin, white ; flesh yellow ; stone free ; 
flavor pleasant ; quality good ; 
season very early. 
A very old European sort. 

Jefferson. — Fruit round or 
round-oval ; size medium to 
large ; cavity very shallow ; 
stem medium short ; suture 
hardly any ; apex very slight- 
ly depressed ; color greenish- 
yellow ; dots many, greenish ; 
bloom white ; skin thin and 
tender ; flesh yellow ; stone 
medium size, blunt, with a 
short neck, slightly flattened, 
rough, free ; flavor rich and 
sugary ; quality good to best ; 
season medium late; a good 
tree. 

Originated with Judge 
Buel, New York. Said by 

Downing to be "the most de- xx^r^r^T^T^o^n^r 

sirable Ind beautiful of all JEFFERSON 

dessert plums." Certainly a 

fine variety for the amateur, and not planted so often as it 
deserves. Not a good market variety. 

Kingston. — Fruit oval ; size medium large ; cavity me- 
dium deep, abruptly rounded ; stem medium long ; suture 
shallow ; apex slightly pointed ; color blue ; dots minute and 
inconspicuous ; bloom blue ; skin thin ; flesh greenish-yellow ; 
stone medium size, oval, with a short neck, hardly flattened, 
rough, cling; quality fair to good; season medium to late. 

Origin, Ontario(?). 

Lafayette. — A large, purple, late variety of which I have 
not been able to secure notes. 

Lawrence (Lawrence's Favorite). — Fruit round or some- 
what oval ; size medium to large ; cavity shallow, very abrupt ; 



The Domestica Plums Described 113 

stem short; suture faint; color dull green, yellowing slightly 
in the sun ; dots many, small, whitish ; bloom white ; skin 
thin ; flesh greenish-yellow ; stone medium size, oval, hardly 
flattened, cling; flavor rich and sweet; quality extra; season 
medium early ; tree large and vigorous. 

Seedling of Green Gage grown by L. U. Lawrence, Hud- 
son, New York. A fine dessert plum and deserving greater 
popularity. 



1 


^ — '^■ 




1^*::^ \ ^^^^ 



KINGSTON 



Leipsic. — Fruit oval ; size medium to large ; cavity me- 
dium deep, rounded ; stem medium ; suture a line ; apex very 
slightly depressed ; color dull red ; dots many, white ; bloom 
blue; skin firm; flesh yellow, meaty; stone medium size, 
oval, flattened, cling; flavor sweet and rich; quality good. 

A Russian variety of the Lombard type imported by Pro- 
fessor Budd. Craig says, "this appears to be identical with 
Merunka." 

Lewis. — Fruit roundish oval ; size large ; cavity medium 
deep, abrupt; stem short; suture shallow; color red, a little 
darker than Lombard; dots numerous; bloom thin, pale 
8 



114 



Plums and Plum Culture 



bluish; skin medium thick; flesh pale yellow; stone large, 
oval, free; quality good to very good; season late. 

Received by United States Department of Agriculture 
from H. C. Cook, White Salmon, Washington. 

Lincoln. — Fruit oval ; size large ; cavity very shallow ; 
stem medium long; suture very shallow; color dull, mottled 
red, on a yellow ground; bloom delicate, lilac; flesh greenish - 
yellow. 




LOMBARD 



This plum, though not a novelty, has recently been boomed 
by certain nurserymen. Its history and merits are unknown 
to the writer. 

Lombard. — Fruit oval, slightly flattened at the ends ; size 
medium, or sometimes large with good cultivation ; cavity 
medium deep, abruptly rounded; stem very short, slender; 
suture shallow ; color delicate purplish or reddish violet ; dots 
several, whitish; bloom blue; skin thin; flesh yellow, firm; 



The Domestica Plums Described 1 1 5 

stone medium size, oval, flattened, cling; quality fair; season 
early; tree strong, healthy, upright grower. 

Said to have been grown from seed by Judge Piatt of 
Whitesboro, New York. Named by the Massachusetts Hor- 
ticultural society after Mr. Lombard of Springfield, Massachu- 
setts, who introduced it in that state. This is one of the most 
extensively planted plums in the northeastern states, and has 
been found very profitable by some growers. It occupies 
among Domestica plums somewhat the same place which the 
Ben Davis holds among apples, including adaptability to all 
soils, thrift under neglect, good bearing and mediocre quality. 
The tree is excellent for top-grafting, and is not seldom planted 
for this purpose. Along with Lombard, Craig describes 
Spanish King, believing it to be practically the same thing. 

LoNGWORTH. — "A medium-sized oval fruit ; color reddish- 
purple; flesh amber yellow, breaking-sweet, pleasant; quality 
good; resembles Lombard, except that it has a freestone; 
season first half of September in northern Michigan."— United 
States Pomological Report, 1891, p. 392. 

Lyon (Bailey). — "Trees upright, spreading, quite vigor- 
ous ; young wood of a reddish-brown ; fruit round or slightly 
oval; stalk one inch long, moderately stout; cavity narrow, 
slight; apex depressed; suture slight, one-half around; color 
bright clear yellow, with a slight bloom; flesh moderately 
juicy, yellow, tender, rich, sweet, vinous; pit large, oval, 
plump, nearly free ; quality, quite good ; season September i ; 
size large; generallv quite productive. A promising variety 
brought to notice by S. S. Bailey of Grand Rapids, Michigan, 
and renamed by the Michigan Horticultural society." — Michi- 
gan Experiment Station Bulletin, 169:244 (1899). 

Merunka. — Fruit truncate, oval ; size medium ; cavity 
medium deep, abruptly rounded; stem strong; suture fainl ; 
apex depressed ; color dark dull red ; dots many, white ; 
bloom blue ; skin thin ; flesh yellow ; stone large, oval, 
pointed, flattened, rough, cling; quality fair to good. 

A Russian plum of the Lombard type imported by Pro- 
fessor Budd. Said to average larger than Lombard in Iowa, 
and to be of better quality. 

McLaughlin. — Fruit round or even oblate ; size medium ; 
cavity shallow, with a ridge around the stem ; stem strong, 
rather long; suture very shallow; apex very slightly de- 
pressed ; color greenish-yellow, with a pink blush ; dots manj% 
greenish ; bloom white ; skin thin ; flesh yellow ; stone me- 
dium size, oblique-oval, slightly flattened, rough, cling; flavor 
rich, sugary ; quality extra ; season medium ; tree hardy and 
a fairly good grower. 

Originated with James McLaughlin, Bangor, Maine. 



ii6 



Plums and Plum Culture 



Probably a seedling of Green Gage, to which type it is readily 
referred. A fine amateur variety and profitable in some mar- 
kets, where it does not have to be shipped too far. 

MiDDLEBURG. — "Tree quite vigorous, upright, with rather 
spreading branches ; fruit roundish-oval ; stalk one to one and 
one-half inches long, stout; cavity broad, slight; apex indis- 
tinct ; suture unmarked ; color greenish-yellow, nearly cov- 
ered with reddish-brown and with a purplish color on the 
exposed side; bloom thin, light blue; flesh moderately juicy, 
light amber, rather firm, vinous, sprightly, rich ; pit small, 
nearly round, free; quality very good; season September i8; 
size medium ; fairly produc- 
tive." — Description taken 
from Michigan Experiment 
Station Bulletin 169 :244 
(1899). 

Mills. — Fruit oval ; size 
medium ; cavity shallow, ab- 
rupt ; stem short, suture 
faint; color purplish-red; 
dots conspicuous, whitish ; 
bloom blue ; skin thin ; flesh 
greenish ; stone oval, slightly 
flattened, free ; quality fair ; 
season medium to late. 

Known to me only as I 
have seen it fruiting on the 
grounds of Ellwanger & 
Barry, Rochester, New York. 

MoLDAVKA. — Fruit long, 
ovate ; cavity deep, abrupt ; 
stem stout, an inch long; su- 
ture shallow ; color pale yel- 
low ; bloom thin ; flesh yellowish ; stone long, ovate, pointed, 
flattened, free; flavor mild; quality good; season medium; tree 
moderately vigorous, spreading upright, not productive. 
Of Russian origin. 

Monarch. — Fruit roundish, oval ; size large ; cavity 
deep, broad, rounded ; stem short and stout ; suture hardly 
visible; color dark purplish; bloom heavy, bluish; flesh yel- 
lowish ; stone free ; quality good ; season late. 

An English variety lately introduced to this country and 
thought to be a valuable late shipping plum. 

Monroe (Monroe Egg, Monroe Gage). — Fruit round 
oval ; size small to medium ; cavity shallow; stem short (some 
descriptions say long); suture faint; color creamy yellow; 
dots white; bloom white; skin tough, thin; flesh yellow; 




Mclaughlin 



The Domestica Plums Described 1 1 7 

stone small, oval, slightly flattened, free; quality good to best; 
season medium. 

Originated with Miss Dunham, Penfield, Monroe county, 
New York. 

MuRDY.— "Tree strong-growing, upright; fruit roundish- 
oval; stalk three-fourths inch long, stout: cavity narrow, 
rather deep; apex imperceptible; suture slight, one-half 
around; color reddish-purple, with many yellowish dots and 
specks and a light blue bloom; flesh moderately juicy, amber, 
tender, sweet, vinous, rich; pit oval, pointed, moderatelv 
plump, clmg; quality very good; season September i6; size 
large ; as yet rather unproductive, but if this quality develops. 
It bids fair to become a valuable market sort."— Michigan 
Experiment Station Bulletin 169:247 (1899). 

Naples (Beauty of Naples).— Known to me only from 
the nursery catalog description, according to which it is ''a 
dessert plum of the highest quality, medium size, greenish- 
yellow, somewhat striped, very sweet, hardy, strong grower." 

_ Nonsuch (Lucombe's Nonsuch).— Fruit roundish-oval; 
size, medium or larger; cavity shallow and wide; suture indis- 
tinct or Avanting; color greenish, turning yellow; bloom 
white; flesh greenish-yellow; stone cling; quality good; 
season late. 

An English variety of the Green Gage type. 

,,_, Orleans (Smith's Orleans, Red Magnum Bonum).— 
Fruit large to very large, oval, rather widest toward the 
stalk, a little irregular, with a strongly marked suture on the 
side; stalk quite small and slender, little more than half an 
inch long, inserted in a deep, narrow cavity; skin reddish- 
purple; covered with a deep blue bloom; flesh deep yellow, a 
little firm, very juicy, with a brisk, rich, vinous flavor (not 
sweet and cloying), and adheres to the stone; good to very 
good; 2oth to the last of August; growth very vigorous."— 
Description adapted from Downing. 

OuLLiN (Oullin's Green Gage, etc.).— Fruit round or 
round oval; size medium; cavity shallow, abrupt: stem 
rather long; suture faint; color dull green, becoming yel- 
lowish; dots faint, whitish; bloom white: skin thin; flesh 
yellowish; stone medium size, oval, slightly flattened, cling; 
quality only fair to good, as I have seen it, though rated very 
good by Downing ; season medium early. 

A German variety of the Green Gage type. 

Pacific. — Fruit oblong; size very large; cavity shallow, 
flaring: stem, short, stout: suture shallow, but distinct; apex 
slightly depressed: color dark crimson; dots many, yellow- 
bloom heavy, bluish; skin thick, tough; flesh yellowish; 



ii8 



Plums and Plum Culture 



stone medium size, oval, nearly free ; quality good ; season 
medium late. 

Originated at Mt. Tabor, Oregon, with Sluman & Nunn. 

Paquet. — Fruit oval ; size very large ; cavity large ; stem 
about an inch long; suture moderate; apex truncated; color 
yellow, washed with red ; dots many, yellow ; bloom bluish ; 
skin thick; flesh yellow; stone oval, semi-cling; quality very 
good ; season early. 

Originated in 1889 with Peter Paquet, Oregon City, Oregon. 

Peach. — Fruit shaped like 
a peach ; size very large ; 
cavity shallow, narrow ; 
stem short, stout ; suture 
shallow ; apex depressed ; 
color light brownish-red ; 
dots dark colored; bloom 
pale ; flesh pale yellow ; 
stone free ; flavor sprightly 
and pleasant ; quality good ; 
season early. Description 
adapted from Downing. 

This is undoubtedly the 
Prune Peche, long known 
in France and neighboring 
countries. It is mentioned 
in all the older works on 
American pomology, but 
does not seem to be grown 
at present. 

Pearl. — A seedling of 
Agen originated by Luther 
Burbank ; described as larg- 
er than the parent, ovoid, 
flattened, white semi-trans- 
parent, with a heavy, white 

bloom. PETERS 

Peters (Peters Yellow 
Gage). — Fruit round-oval; size medium to large; cavity me- 
dium, shallow, abrupt ; stem long, pubescent ; suture shallow ; 
apex slightly depressed ; color greenish-yellow, sometimes 
with a slight blush ; dots many, yellow ; bloom white ; skin 
thin ; flesh greenish-yellow ; stone medium large, oval, pointed, 
hardly flattened, cling; quality good to best; season early; tree 
moderately vigorous and upright. 

A good amateur variety of the Green Gage type. 

Pond (Pond's Seedling, Fonthill). — Fruit obovate, with 
a short neck ; size very large ; cavity shallow, narrow, abrupt : 




The Domestica Plums Described 



119 



stem medium ; color violet or purple ; dots numerous, brown- 
ish ; bloom purplish; skin thick; flesh yellow, juicy; quality 
first-rate ; season medium late ; tree vigorous and productive. 
Of English origin. A good variety. 

Pride (Shippers' Pride). — Fruit nearly round; size large; 
color, dark purple or blue ; quality said to be good ; season 
medium late ; a good canning and shipping plum. 

Purple Favorite. — Fruit roundish-obovate ; size medium 
to large ; cavity very shallow ; stem slender ; suture none ; 
color light brown in the shade, purple in the sun ; dots numer- 
ous, golden; bloom light, blue; flesh pale greenish, juicy, 

tender ; stone small, round- 
ish, free ; flavor sweet ; 
quality good to best; sea- 
son early. Description 
adapted from Downing. 

This variety originated 
on the Downing homestead 
at Newburgh, New York, 
with the father of A. J. 
Downing. It is not now 
widely grown. 

Purple Gage (Reine 
Claude Violette). — Fruit 
nearly spherical ; size me- 
dium ; cavity shallow ; stem 
short, stout ; suture nearly 
obsolete ; apex rounded ; 
color blue ; dots many, dis- 
tinct, whitish; bloom blue; 
flesh greenish-yellow ; stone 
small, oval, moderately 
flattened, half free; flavor 
quality good to best; season 




POND 



very rich, sweet and sugary 
medium. 

Of European origin and a favorite in parts of that country. 
Not a good market plum, but desirable for home use. 

QuACKENBOSS. — Fruit round-oval ; size medium or larger ; 
cavity shallow, flaring; stem rather long; suture a line; 
color blue ; dots blue ; bloom blue ; skin thin ; flesh greenish ; 
stone oval, pointed, flattened, cling; quality fair to good; 
season medium; a good rapid-growing tree and fairly pro- 
ductive. 

Originated in the garden of S. C. Groat, Albany, New 
York, and introduced by Mr. Quackenboss of Greenbush, 
New York. 

Richland. — Fruit oval ; size large ; cavity deep, abrupt ; 



The Domestica Plums Described 121 

stem medium long, slender; suture a line; apex round; color 
blue; dots many, small, white; bloom blue; skin tender; 
flesh greenish-yellow; stone large, elliptical, flat, cling; 
quality good ; season medium. 

Originated on the farm of Randall Elden, Richland, Penn- 
sylvania. Does not seem to fill a long-felt want. 

RoYALE Hative. — Fruit roundish ; size medium ; cavity 
shallow or none ; stem half an inch long ; color light purple, 
slightly streaked with brownish ; dots yellowish ; bloom blue ; 
flesh yellow ; stone free ; quality very good ; season early. 

An old French variety. 

Royal Tours (Royale de Tours). — Fruit irregular, 
rounded, one side much larger than the other; size medium 
to large ; cavity narrow, rather deep ; stem short, stout ; 
suture deep; apex a white dot; color deep purple over red; 
dots many, large, yellow ; bloom thick, bluish ; skin thick, 
firm ; flesh greenish-yellow ; stone rather large, oblong, 
hardly flattened, rough, cling; flavor rich and sugary; quality 
good to best; season medium. 

This is an old French variety, long known and highly 
esteemed in Europe, but never popular in this country and now 
almost lost to cultivation here. During the season of 1899 
(August), however, I received specimens from North Carolina, 
where it is grown locally under the name of Worth, and where 
it is highly praised. It seems to me to be a dessert plum of 
value, and fit to be grown alongside of some of our best 
Domesticas. 

Saint Catherine. — A medium-sized, obovate, yellow 
plum, formerly regarded as an important variety for prunes 
in France. Described by all the early American works, but 
now apparently unknown in this country. 

Saratoga. — Fruit round-oval ; size large ; cavity deep, 
narrow ; stem an inch long ; suture shallow ; apex slightly 
depressed; color dull, dark purplish; dots many, minute, 
whitish; bloom thin, bluish; flesh dull yellow; stone ovai, 
pointed, cling ; flavor mild sub-acid ; quality good ; season 
early ; tree vigorous, upright. 

Sergeant (Robe de Sergeant). — Downing gives this nani'f 
as a synonym of Prune d'Agen. but the variety now grown on 
the Pacific coast as Robe de Sergeant is said to be altogether 
different. It is thus described by the California horticulturist, 
John Rock ; "Fruit medium size, oval ; skin deep purple, 
approaching black, and covered with a thick blue bloom ; flesh 
greenish-yellow, sweet and well-flavored, sugary, rich and 
delicious, slightly adhering to the stone." Wickson says: "This 



122 Plums and Plum Culture 

variety makes a larger, darker-colored dried prune than the 
Prune d'Agen, and has sold in some cases at a higher price." 

Origin, Europe (?). 

Sharp (Victoria, Sharp's Emperor). — Fruit oval; size 
large to very large ; cavity medium deep, abrupt ; stem nearly 
an inch long, pubescent; suture shallow; color light pinkish- 
red, coloring late; dots whitish and pinkish; bloom bluish: 
skin thin ; flesh yellow ; stone medium size, round-oval, blunt, 
ridged, considerably flattened, free ; flavor rich ; quality good 
to very good ; season medium ; leaves large, ovate, pubescent. 

An English variety, long known in this country, but never 
attaining a general popularity, though it has much to recom- 
mend it to the amateur grower. 

There has been a good deal of confusion as between the 
names Victoria and Sharp. This matter has been recently 
investigated with the help of Mr. W. A. Taylor of the United 
States division of pomology, and the result seems to be that 
these two are synonyms, and that the name Sharp ought to 
be used as recommended by the American Pomological society. 
The name Victoria is very commonly used, however. 

Spanish. — "Trees quite vigorous, rather upright; fruit 
medium to large, roundish, slightly inclined to oval ; cavity 
narrow, deep ; stalk stout, five-eighths inch long ; apex and 
suture hardly mar^-ed; color reddish-purple, with a bluish 
bloom; flesh firm and juicy, light amber, with a mild, vinous, 
nearly sweet flavor; pit medium size, oval, cling; quality fair; 
quite productive; season August 25; young wood reddish- 
brown. Although rather small, it may have some value as a 
market sort." — Michigan Experiment Station Bulletin 169:248 
(1899). 

Spaulding. — Fruit oval ; size medium to large ; cavity 
shallow; stem medium; suture distinct; color yellowish- 
green; bloom whitish; flesh tender, juicy, yellowish; flavor 
sweet and pleasant ; quality good ; season medium. 

Stanton. — Known to me only through Michigan Experi- 
ment Station Bulletin T03 :35, from which the following note 
is taken: "Tree a good grower; fruit medium to large, round- 
oval, deep purple, with a thick bluish bloom; quite productive; 
last of September and early October. An excellent keeper and 
a promising late sort for canning purposes." 

St. Julien.— a somewhat striking but inferior type, par- 
taking partly of the character of the Myrobalan and partly of 
the character of the Damson. Used for stocks. It has been 
tried for this purpose in this country and discarded. 

St. Lawrence. — Fruit round-oval ; size very irregular, 
medium; cavity deep, evenly rounded; stem short, pubescent; 




SHARP 



1 24 Plums and Plum Culture 

suture shallow ; color dark blue ; dots several, faint ; bloom 
blue; flesh yellow; stone small, round, pointed, turgid, cling; 
quality poor; season medium early. 

A seedling of Orleans grown by Ellwanger & Barry, Ro- 
chester, New York. 

Sugar. — A new drying prune originated by Luther Bur- 
bank and introduced by him in 1899. It is described as follows 
by Secretary B. M. Lelong of the California state board of 
horticulture : "An extremely early prune, ripening first of 
August; skin, very tender, at first of a light purple, tinted with 
green, changing at maturity to dark purple, covered with a 
thick white bloom ; flesh yellow, tender and rich ; form ovoid 
slightly flattened, large ; average size fifteen to the pound, 
which is two or three times larger than French prune (Agen) : 
fruit stalk short, separates from the fruit easily as the fruit 
reaches maturity ; stone medium size, flattened, slightly wrin- 
kled and most often separated from the flesh." 

Regarded by Mr. Burbank as one of his best creations, and 
spoken of as highly promising by Professor Wickson and 
others. 

Tatge. — A variety of the Lombard type, and by some 
thought to be identical with that variety. Originated at Belle 
Plain, Iowa, and much advertised in the west recently. 

Tennant. — Originated in Whatcom county, Washington, 
and said to be an acquisition. Large, dark purple, with a blue 
bloom. 

Tragedy. — Fruit egg-shaped ; size medium to large ; 
cavity medium shallow; stem short, stiff; suture deep; color 
dark blue ; dots very minute ; bloom blue ; skin thick and 
tough ; flesh firm, yellow, meaty ; stone large, pointed, flat- 
tened, cling; flavor brisk; quality, good; season early. 

Origin, California. Thought by some to be a valuable 
early shipping plum, but has not yet been sufficiently tested 
in the eastern states. 

Transparent (Transparent Gage). — Fruit roundish, 
oblate ; size medium or larger ; cavity small but deep ; stem 
medium ; suture shallow, distinct ; apex depressed ; color 
greenish-yellow, marked with red in the sun ; bloom whitish ; 
flesh greenish-yellow, tender ; quality good to best ; season 
medium. 

A French variety, thought to be a seedling of Green Gage, 
and evidently referable to that type. 

Union (Union Purple). — This variety is unknown to me 
except for the description given in the catalog of S. D. 
Willard, which is as follows : "Fruit large, roundish-oval ; 
skin reddish purple, covered with a thin bloom; stalk short 



The Domestica Plums Described 12 



and stout; flesh greenish, vinous, sweet, adheres to the stone; 
tree vigorous; season September (in New York)." 

Wales (Prince of Wales). — Fruit globular or oblong; 
size large ; cavity moderate ; stem short and stout ; suture 
medium ; color reddish-purple ; dots brownish-yellow ; bloom 
heavy ; flesh greenish-yellow ; stone partly free ; quality good ; 
season medium early. 

Origin, England. 

Wangenheim. — Fruit ovate; size medium; cavity shal- 
low ; stem slender, short ; suture shallow or wanting ; color 
dark blue; bloom heavy, blue; flesh hard, yellow; stone small. 

oval, free; flavor sweet; 
quality fair; season me- 
dium early ; tree moder- 
ately vigorous, branches 
somewhat spreading. 

Of German extraction ; 
known in this country for 
many years, but of no spe- 
cial value. 

Washington (Bolmer). 
— Fruit nearly round; size 
medium to large ; cavity 
shallow, flaring ; stem 
short, pubescent ; suture 
shallow ; color greenish- 
yellow, with a pink blush 
in the sun ; dots several, 
greenish ; bloom white ; 
flesh yellow ; stone me- 
WASHINGTON ^^^^ sj^^^ round-oval, but 

little flattened, rough, 
free; quality good to extra; season medium early; tree a 
strong grower, with large, broad, glossy foliage. 

Downing gives the following interesting account of the 
origin of this variety: "The parent tree grew originally on 
Delancey's farm, on the east side of the Bowery, New York, 
but, being grafted with another sort, escaped notice until a 
sucker from it, planted by Mr. Bolmer, a merchant in Chatham 
street, came into bearing about the year 1818, and attracted 
universal attention by the remarkable beauty and size of the 
fruit. In 1821 this sort was first sent to the horticultural 
society of London by the late Dr. Hosack." 

Yellow Egg (Magnum Bonum, Dame Aubert). — Fruit in 
shape like a goose egg ; size largest ; cavity shallow and 
abrupt, surrounded by a ridge; stem nearly an inch long; 
suture usually shallow; color creamy yellow when ripe; dots 




26 



Plums and Plum Culture 



many, greenish, indistinct ; bloom white ; flesh yellow ; quality 
fair to good ; season medium ; tree tall and vigorous, but 
rather straggling. 

A very old European variety, cultivated in this country 
from the earliest times. Is planted oftener than its merits 
justify, probably on account of its great size. It is a good 




YELLOW EGG 



canning plum, however, and is largely used for this on the 
Pacific coast, where it is extensively grown. 

Yellow Gage (Prince's Yellow Gage). — Fruit oval; size 
medium ; cavity shallow, broad, flaring ; stem stout, medium 
long; suture a line; apex rounded; color golden yellow, a 
little clouded; bloom white, heavy; flesh deep yellow; stone 
free; flavor, rich sugary; quality very good; season early. 




XVIII 

The Damson Plums Named and Described 




LUSTER.— Under the name of Cluster 
Damson, several New York growers 
have a fine, prolific, round, rather small 
plum of this class, the history of which 
I do not know. The variety seems to 
be an excellent one for commercial 
purposes. 

Danish Damson. — Craig (Iowa ex- 
periment station) gives the following 
notes : "Fruit, round, three-fourths to 
seven-eighths of an inch in diameter, 
beautiful light blue ; best quality for 
canning, and very good to eat out of hand ; colors four weeks 
before ripe ; freestone ; season first or second week in Septem- 
ber; tree upright grower, hardy, hardiest of Domestica? here 
tested ; bears young and regularly ; seems as hardy in bud as 
Americanas. (H. Knudson, Springfield, Minnesota.) 

"Scions were imported from Denmark in the spring of 
1884 by H. Knudson and introduced by him a few years later." 

EuGEN FuRST. — Fruit pear-shaped, with a curious little 
neck ; size small ; cavity shallow, abrupt ; stem slender ; 
suture obsolete ; apex slightly pointed ; color blue ; dots none ; 
bloom thick, blue ; skin tough ; flesh greenish yellow ; stone 

127 



The Damson Plums Described 129 

small, obliquely rounded, hardly flattened, short-pointed, nearly 
free; quality fair to good; foliage of a Damson. 

A German variety introduced to America about sixty 
years ago. 

Freestone (Freestone Damson). — Fruit oval; size small: 
cavity very shallow; stem short, stout; suture none; color 
dark blue ; dots none ; bloom blue ; skin tough, astringent ; 




EUGEN FURST 

flesh greenish ; stone small, oval, pointed, turgid, free ; qual- 
ity fair for a Damson. 
Of no particular value. 

French. — Fruit roundish-oval : cavity shallow ; stem one- 
half inch long; suture almost obsolete: color very dark blue; 
dots numerous, gray ; bloom blue : flesh dull green ; stone 
small, round, flattened, cling : quality good ; season late ; tree 

9 



130 



Plums and Plum Culture 



vigorous, with dense, roundish head ; said by some to be lack- 
ing in productiveness. 

Mr. S. D. Willard says of this variety : "It has much to 
commend it. Tree a much better grower than the Shropshire ; 
hardy, and an annual bearer; very productive." 

Frogmore. — Fruit oval ; size small ; cavity shallow ; stem 
long, slender; suture a line; color blue; dots very small, 
hardly visible; bloom blue; skin tough; flesh greenish; stone 




SHROPSHIRE 



small, oval, somewhat flattened, cling; quality good for a 
Damson. 

One of the best of the Damsons. 

Shropshire (Shropshire Damson). — Fruit oval; size 
small; cavity hardly any; stem about one-half inch long; 
suture none ; color dark blue ; dots none visible ; bloom blue ; 
skin firm; flesh greenish; stone small, oval, turgid, cling; 
flavor sour; quality fair; tree a good grower and enormously 
productive. 

An English variety, and one of the favorite Damsons. 

Stoneless. — Fruit oval, compressed; size small, much 
like a Damson; cavity hardly visible; stem large and strong; 



Damson Plums Described 131 

suture indistinct ; apex a dot ; color deep blue ; dots hardly 
to be seen ; bloom thick, bluish ; skin firm ; flesh green, firm ; 
stone none, the seed lying naked in the flesh ; quality fair. 

This is an old curiosity which has been known for more 
than a century in France. The foregoing description is from 
specimens grown by Luther Burbank. It has no practical 
value. 

White Damson. — Fruit oval; size medium; cavity very 
shallow ; suture none ; color yellowish, like a ripe Bavay ; dots 
fine, darker colored ; bloom white ; flesh greenish ; stone cling ; 
quality good, season late. 

This plum is really not white, but has the color of the 
Green Gage type. The foliage, however, seems to be of the 
Damson sort. 




XIX 

The Japanese Plums Named and Described 




A I BUNDANCE (Botan).— Fruit irregu- 
I lar ovoid ; size medium to large ; 

j cavity abruptly rounded ; stem me- 

! dium short, strong ; suture shallow 
apex usually distinctly pointed ; color 
bright red, almost entirely overlay- 
ing a yellow ground ; dots many, 
large, oval, flattened, cling; flavor 
sweet and rich ; quality good to very 
good ; season early ; tree a strong, 
thrifty, upright grower, hardy, an 
early and prolific bearer. 
Imported from Japan by Luther Burbank in 1884, and first 
sent out as Botan. Renamed Abundance and generally dis- 
tributed by J. T. Lovett in 1888. One of the best known and 
deservedly popular of the Japanese plums. 

As with all the principal varieties of the Japanese plums, 
there are several different things passing as Abundance. The 
description given above is by the author, from specimens true 
to type. The commonest of the spurious types is the smaller 
sort which Bailey formerly called Babcock, but which he lat- 
terly brings back to the name of Abundance. In his most 
recent publication. Professor Bailey also refers Chase and 
Douglas to Abundance and makes them synonyms of this 

132 



The Japanese Plums Described 133 

variety. Persons buying trees of Abundance should take great 
pains to get them true to type. 

Babcock. — A small and inferior type of Abundance. First 
described under the name Babcock by Bailey (Cornell Bulletin 
62:19) but more recently referred by him to Abundance (Cor- 
nell Bulletin 175:142). The true Abundance should always 
be planted in preference to this variety. 

Berckmans (True Sweet Botan, White-fleshed Botan).— 
"Fruit of medium size, round-oblong, with a tendency to 
have a blunt point, more or less angular in cross-section, the 
suture not prominent; color deep bright red, especially when 
exposed to the sun, more or less yellow-splashed on the shaded 
side ; flesh firm and sweet, cling or semi-cling, becoming dry 
and insipid when fully ripe. Ripe this year on the 4th to 6th 
of August with the earliest trees of Abundance. In 1896, it 
also ripened with Abundance or just ahead of it. In 1897, the 
same trees ripened two weeks later than Abundance. It is an 
upright grower, with yellowish-green, rather small foliage. 
It is readily distinguished from all other Japanese plums which 
I know by the dry and mealy character of the ripe fruit. 

"We doubt if the Berckmans is of sufficiently high quality 
to recommend it for general planting, since the Abundance 
occupies the same season. Some of the trees which have 
passed for Berckmans are Abundance. The true Berckmans 
is distinguished by its dry flesh." — Bailey, Cornell Bulletin 
175:138, 1899. 

Berger (Strawberry. Ura-Beni, Uchi-Beni). — "Small and 
cherry-like, flattened endwise, with a distinct suture; color 
bright light red, with prominent bloom : flesh firm and meaty, 
yellow, free from the very small pit and with no astringency 
or almond flavor, the skin not tough nor sour ; ripe this year 
on the 17th and i8th of July. This is one of the most distinct 
of all the Japanese plums. It has the flavor of some of the 
Domestica varieties. The handsome little fruits fall when 
ripe and should be caught on straw or hay spread underneath 
the tree. The plums are not much larger than very large 
cherries, and coming after the sweet cherries are gone, they 
seem to piece out the cherry season. The tree is a distinct and 
upright grower, with rather narrow and light colored leaves, 
and the fruits are borne well down on the older wood. We 
believe that the Berger is well worth growing in every home 
garden." — Bailey, Cornell Bulletin 175:132, 1899. 

BiERY. — Fruit globular; size medium; cavity deep, 
abrupt, narrow; stem short; suture a trace; color yellow 
blushed with red, patched with russet; dots minute, russet; 
skin thin, separates easily from the flesh ; flesh yellow, tender, 



134 Plums and Plum Culture 

very juicy; stone medium size, oval, cling; quality good; sea- 
son a week to ten days after Abundance. 

Grown by J. J. Biery, Covington, Louisiana, who received 
it from California as Longfruit. Notes taken from United 
States pomologist report, 1895, p. 45. 

BoTAN. — There have been several varieties under this 
name introduced into the American trade. Nearly all have 
now been renamed. The most important are Abundance and 
Berckmans. Botan is not a variety name, but a Japanese class 
name, something like Gage, Damson or Prune. In a general 
way it appears to stand for a large, round, latish plum, but 
the application has been very careless, even in Japan, and has 
been infinitely confused in the introductions to this country. 

BuRBANK. — Fruit roundish, conical; size large to very 
large; cavity rather deep and abrupt; suture shallow or 
absent; apex somewhat pointed; color bright, dark, metallic 
red on a yellow ground ; dots numerous, small ; skin medium ; 
flesh yellow, juicy, firm; stone, medium size, roundish, 
pointed, cling; flavor rich and sugary; quality good to very 
good; season medium; tree a very strong, spreading, way- 
ward grower and requires severe cutting back to keep it within 
bounds ; an early and profuse bearer, requiring heavy thinning 
to secure fruit of reasonable size. 

Imported from Japan in 1885 by Luther Burbank. Intro- 
duced to the trade generally in 1890. This is one of the best 
and most popular Japanese plums. Its early and heavy bear- 
ing, its freedom from insects and disease, and its large size 
and attractive color make it a desirable market fruit. It has 
been found successful in many parts of New England, New 
York and the central states. It does not appear to do so well 
southward, where it rots badly, and is held in very low esteem 
by some southern plum growers. 

Charot (Bailey Yellow Japan, Furugiya, etc).— Fruit 
strongly heart-shaped ; size large ; cavity abrupt, rather large ; 
stem short, very stout ; suture faint ; apex rounded or 
pointed; color, dull red on a greenish-yellow ground; dots, 
many, yellowish; bloom blue; skin strong; flesh firm, yellow, 
juicy; stone medium size, oval, pointed, hardly flattened, 
cling; flavor sweet and rich; quality good or better; season 
late; tree a strong, upright grower and a good bearer; prob- 
ably the best Japanese plum of its season. 

Imported from Japan by Mr. Chabot of Berkeley, Cali- 
fornia, but introduced to the trade by Luther Burbank in 1886. 

Delaware. — Fruit ellipsoid; size medium to large; cavity 
shallow, rounded : stem medium ; suture a faint line ; apex 
rounded ; color deep, dark, dull red ; dots many, dull yellow ; 
bloom whitish; skin medium; flesh rather soft, light yellow 



The Japanese Plums Described 135 

inside, red outside; stone large, oval, somewhat flattened, 
roughened, cling ; quality fair. 

Originated by Luther Burbank from seed of Satsuma, 
crossed by Kelsey. First offered in 1893. Introduced later in 
the east by J. L. Childs. Has not been accorded much notice, 
whether from lack of merit or of advertising, I am unable 
to say. 

Douglas (Munson). — Fruit round oblong; size medium 
to large ; cavity shallow ; stem short, stout ; suture shallow ; 
apex somewhat rounded ; color dark, purplish red ; dots 
many, small ; bloom bluish ; flesh yellow, firm ; stone nearly 
free ; quality good ; season about with Abundance. 




CHABOT 



Imported and introduced by J. T. Whitaker, Texas. Bailey 
first named this Munson; he afterward renamed it Douglas; 
and in his latest publication he says it is the same as Abun- 
dance. The inappetent plum man may take his choice. 

Earliest of All (Yosebe Wasse-Sumomo). — Fruit 
round ; size small ; cavity shallow, narrow ; stem rather long 
and slender ; suture only a line ; color pinkish-red ; dots 
many, minute ; bloom light, whitish ; skin thick, tough ; flesh 
soft, yellow; stone small, round, cling; quality fair; season 
earliest of the Japanese. 



136 



Plums and Plum Culture 



Like many other Japanese plums this is greatly confused. 
The original stock was probably imported by H. H. Berger & 
Co. of California. It has no value aside from its earliness. 
Stark Brothers' name, Earliest of All, is used here, following 
Bailey, though it is objectionable in form. 

Engre. — "About one-third larger than Earliest of All, not 
round, but somewhat flattened endwise, the suture usually 
rather prominent; color a very little darker than Earliest of 
All ; flesh soft and yellow, cling, sour, but with almost no 
almond flavor, and the skin tough. Engre is practically of 
the same season as Earliest of All, although this year it was 
about one day later. It is a distinctly better plum. We rec- 
ommend it for being very early. With us it has been a pro- 
lific bearer, and the fruits are attractive. Its quality is not 
as good as that of Burbank and Abundance, but its great 
earliness commends it." — Bailey, Cornell Experiment Station 
Bulletin 175:131, 1899. 

Georgeson (Hattonkin, Mikado, White Kelsey, Yeddo). — 
Fruit globular or somewhat heart-shaped ; size medium to 
large ; cavity deep, abrupt ; stem medium ; suture faint ; 
apex rounded or pointed ; color rich yellow ; bloom whitish ; 
skin tough, sour ; flesh firm, hard, yellow ; stone medium 
large, cling; quality fair; season late. 

Imported by H. H. Berger of San Francisco. Distributed 
under various labels. Not a favorite. 

Hale (Prolific, of Burbank). — ''Fruit medium to large, 
globular or somewhat globular-oblong, not pointed, the suture 
usually distinctly marked ; color deep yellow or orange, thinly 
overlaid with mottled and speckled red, giving the appearance 
of a yellow-red fruit, bearing a thin bloom and having many 
yellow specks; flesh soft and juicy, yellow, cling, of good 
quality, but the skin sour ; ripened with us this year on the 
24th of August. The fruit has a very slender" stem and drops 
easily from the tree. The tree is a moderately spreading 
grower, being intermediate in habit between the Georgeson 
and Abundance. The fruit is of good quality, but for the last 
two seasons it has failed to color well and has dropped pre- 
maturely. The trees have not been very productive, although 
they have borne for three consecutive years. From its be- 
havior thus far, we are of the opinion that the Hale should 
not be put in the first or leading list of Japanese plums for 
western New York. It follows the Georgeson, being in con- 
dition for eating when the last specimens of the Georgeson 
are passing." — Bailey, Cornell Bulletin 175:147, 1899. 

Imported by Luther Burbank in 1885. Named for the 
introducer, J. H. Hale, of Connecticut. Has been rather 
largely planted in the last four or five years, but is not yet 
sufficiently tested in the orchard. 



The Japanese Plums Described 137 

Hattankio. — Variously written Hattan, Hattankio, Hy- 
tankio, Hattonkin, Hytan-Kayo, etc. This is another Japanese 
class name, seeming to refer to the pointed varieties, but much 
confused, especially in this country. It should not be applied 
to any one variety. 

Heikes. — ''Much like Hale, but rather more flattened at 
the ends, or oblate, mostly darker in color, the flesh acid. 

"Named for W. F. Heikes, Huntsville, Alabama." — Bailey, 
Cornell Experiment Station Bulletin 62. 

HuNN. — "Fruit small to medium, globular, sometimes 
with a distinct short point, the suture more or less prominent ; 
color something like that of Abundance, but less pink, and 
usually a deep claret red, with many minute, golden dots; 
flesh soft, deep yellow, cling, of fair to good quality, aromatic. 
Ripened this year as the Georgeson was passing out, that is, 
from the 20th to the 24th of August. In 1897 it ripened also 
at this season, but since the Red June ripened with us very 
late that year, we compared it in season with that variety, and 
therefore called it an early plum. We should now call it a 
midseason to late plum. It has a slight musky flavor, but 
usually not sufficiently pronounced to make it disagreeable. 
We are more favorably impressed with it this year than we 
have been in the last two years. It is possible that it may 
deserve a place in the Japanese plums of second importance." — 
Bailey, Cornell Bulletin 175:147, 1899. 

Named for C. E. Hunn of the horticultural department, 
Cornell university. 

Kelsey. — Fruit heart-shaped, the halves unequal ; size 
large to very large ; cavity deep, narrow ; stem rather slender ; 
suture shallow ; apex pointed ; color rich crean-iy yellow, 
sometimes with a faint blush ; bloom white ; flesh light yellow, 
firm, meaty; stone in a large open cavity, small, oval, flattened, 
semi-cling ; quality good ; season irregular, but rather late ; 
tree not hardy north of Washington, succeeding only in the 
southern states, where it has some value. 

The first Japanese plum introduced to this country. It 
was imported with several others by Mr. Hough of Vacaville, 
California, through Mr. Bridges, a United States consul in 
Japan. The trees were turned over later to the late John 
Kelsey of Berkeley, California, and the Kelsey plum began to 
be propagated extensively about 1883. It is an attractive plum 
and sells well on the fruit stands. 

Kerr. — Fruit heart-shaped ; size medium ; cavity deep, 
rounded ; stem short ; suture shallow ; apex pointed ; color 
clear yellow ; dots many, but hardly visible ; bloom white ; 
skin thick ; flesh yellow, moderately firm ; stone medium size, 
oval, scarcely flattened, cling; quality fair to good; season 



138 



Plums and Plum Culture 



early; tree a thrifty, strong, upright grower, somewhat 
resembling Chabot. 

Imported from Japan by Frost & Burgess, Riverside, Cali- 
fornia, and named for J. W. Kerr, Denton, Maryland. One 
of the best yellow plums; also one of the best early Japanese 
varieties. 

LoNGFRUiT. — A small, round, red, early fruit imported by 
Luther Burbank in 1885. Little known. The tree is upright 
and thrifty in habit, but not very productive, which coupled 
with small size of fruit renders it undesirable as a variety. 




MARU 



Maru (Masu). — Fruit roundish-oblate; size medium; 
cavity shallow, abrupt; stem stout, short; suture obsolete; 
color dark, dull red ; dots many, dull ; bloom bluish ; flesh 
yellow, medium firm ; stone medium large, oval, slightly flat- 
tened, cling ; quality usually said to be poor, but I have eaten 
specimens fresh from the tree which were fully equal to 
Abundance or Burbank. It loses flavor quickly when picked, 
however, and does not ship well. Tree a spreading, vase- 
shaped grower and a good bearer. 

Imported by Burbank in 1885 and introduced by him, but 
afterward discarded on account of poor quality. 

Marketman (Shipper, of Burbank). — "Remarkable for 
its firm flesh and superior shipping qualities. Fruit oval, light 



The Japanese Plums Described 139 

red, with a white bloom; firm and sweet and yet juicy. The 
tree is sturdy, handsome, upright but moderate grower, and 
requires very little attention. The fruit can be handled like 
apples and will keep a long time. Seedling of Satsuma." — 
Luther Burbank, New Creations, 1893:18. 

The name is here changed from Shipper to Marketman, 
since the well-known Shipper or Shippers' Pride of the eastern 




OGON 



States, a variety of the Domestica group, has the first claim on 
the old name. 

October (October Purple). — A large, dark purplish, heart- 
shaped or somewhat oblate plum, with yellow flesh, of good 
quality, clingstone, very late. Originated by Luther Burbank 
and introduced in 1897 and 1898 by Stephen Hoyt's Sons. 

Ogon. — Fruit irregularly globular; size medium; cavity 
evenly rounded, medium deep ; suture shallow ; color even 
yellow; dots moderately numerous; bloom whitish; skin 
medium thick ; flesh firm, meaty, yellow ; stone medium large, 



140 Plums and Plum Culture 

round, turgid, almost free; flavor flat; quality below medium; 
season medium early ; generally reputed to be a shy bearer. 

Imported by H. H. Berger & Co. of California. Not 
generally popular, though some like it, especially for canning. 

Palmer. — Grown by J. S. Breece, Fayetteville, North Car- 
olina, but never introduced. See report of the pomologist, 
United States department agriculture, 1895, p. 46. 

Red June (Red Nagate, Shiro-Smomo). — Fruit round- 
conical ; size medium ; cavity large, deep, flaring ; stem short ; 
suture shallow ; apex pointed ; color dark, coppery red ; 
bloom bluish; skin thin; flesh yellow, iuicy; stone small, oval, 
semi-cling; quality fair to good; season early; tree a free, 
spreading grower, fairly prolific. 

Imported by H. H. Berger & Co., San Francisco. A 
favorite early market variety in the northeastern states. 

Satsuma (Blood). — Fruit broad conical; size large; 
cavity deep and abrupt ; stem short, stout ; suture nearly 
obsolete ; apex blunt pointed ; color dark, brilliant red ; dots 
many ; bloom whitish or bluish ; skin thick ; flesh dark reil, 
firm ; stone medium size, oval, cling ; flavor rather acid ; 
quality good ; season medium to medium late ; tree a spread- 
ing grower, not so hardy as leading Japanese varieties, blos- 
soms quite self-sterile, fickle in productiveness, sometimes 
overbearing, sometimes entirely refusing to bear. 

Imported by Luther Burbank, 1886. A favorite with 
some, especially for home use, canning, etc. Should be 
planted cautiously at first. 

Sea Egg. — Mentioned by Bailey (Cornell Bulletin 106) as 
coming from Luther Burbank. Apparently never introduced. 

Wassu. — Bailey says that "the Wassu, from Normand, 1.5 
indistinguishable from Burbank." The Wassu, which I have 
had from J. W. Kerr (and which I think came also from Nor- 
mand) looked much like Kelsey ! It remains to be seen whether 
or not there is such a variety as Wassu, and then we may 
discuss what it is. 

Weeping Blood. — One of J. L. Normand's varieties. Not 
known in the north. I have no reliable description at hand. 

Willard (Botan 26). — Fruit round; size medium; cavity 
narrow, deep : stem short, stout ; suture very faint ; apex 
blunt; color dull red; dots many, minute, yellow; bloom 
whitish ; flesh greenish-yellow, soft ; stone medium size, free ; 
flavor flat : quality poor ; season early ; tree vigorous and 
hardy and fairly prolific. 

This variety is early and a freestone, but is so poor in 
quality as to be in general disrepute. 




XX 



The Americana Plums Named and Dcseribcd 




D VANCE (P. G.)— Fruit oval, tnin- 
cate ; size large to very large; cavity 
shallow or none ; suttfre a line ; apex 
slightly depressed ; color yellowish- 
red ; dots many, conspicuous, yellow ; 
stone large, oval, with a distinct 
neck, flattened, cling ; quality good ; 
season a week after De Soto. 

Originated by Theodore Williams, 
Benson. Nebraska, and introduced 
by J. W. Kerr, Denton, Maryland, 
1900. 

Alice. — "From seed of Van Buren. First crop In 1893. 
Tree a fine upright grower, with large, light red fruit of best 
quality." — From circular of the originator, H. A. Terry, Iowa. 

Allen's Yellow. — ''Medium, round, yellow and red, skin 
thick; cling; Kansas." — Bailey. Probably an Americana, but 
now lost from sight. 

American Eagle. — Fruit oval, slightly compressed ; size 
large ; cavity shallow, abrupt ; stem medium ; suture a faint 
line ; color dark crimson over yellow ; dots many, dull white 

142 



The Americana Plums Described 143 

or yellow ; bloom thick, blue ; skin thick ; flesh firm, yellow ; 
stone large, round, flat, cling; quality good; season medium. 

Introduced by Osceola Nursery Co., Osceola, Missouri, 
1889. One of the best varieties in this group. 

Apricot. — Fruit spherical ; size large ; color yellow 
ground, nearly covered with red; stone cling; season of Wolf. 
Not generally successful. 

Atkins (Beatty), — Fruit oval, slightly compressed; size 
large, or very large ; cavity shallow, flaring ; suture a line ; 
color bright orange with crimson blush ; dots many, very 
minute; bloom blue; skin thick; flesh yellow; stone medium 
large, oval, somewhat flattened, cling; quality good to best; 
season medium. 

A fine and promising variety, unfortunately passing under 
the name of Beatty. This name is sure to be confused with 
the Chicasaw Beaty of Texas. The variety originated with 
Mr. Beatty, near Atkins, Benton county, Iowa, and was first 
propagated and sent out by R. Royce, Shellsbury, Iowa, and 
latterly and more extensively by Snyder & Son of Center 
Point, Iowa. 

Baraboo. — "Large and as firm as De Soto ; better for can- 
ning, sauce or jam; early as Cheney; drops when barely ripe, 
but keeps well after gathering." — Goff. Season just after 
Cheney. Introduced in 1897 by William Toole, Wisconsin. 

Bean. — This variety was grown by H. Knudson of Spring- 
field, Minnesota, and is mentioned by Goff. No description or 
definite notes are at hand. 

Bender. — Fruit oval, slightly compressed ; size large ; 
cavity shallow ; suture obsolete ; color dark red ; dots very 
many, dull yellow ; bloom thick, blue ; skin thick, tough ; 
flesh yellow ; stone large, oval, flat, quite free ; quality good ; 
season rather early ; tree very vigorous, with very large, fine, 
healthy foliage; very productive. 

BixBY (same as Bicksley, Bixly, etc.?) — Fruit round 
oval, size large ; cavity very shallow ; suture a line ; color 
dull crimson over orange; dots many, minute; bloom blue; 
skin thick ; flesh yellow ; stone large, nearly round, slightly 
flattened, cling ; quality fair to good. 

Found many years ago on the homestead of Rev. R. W. 
Bixby, Edgewood, Clayton county, Iowa. The description 
above is made from specimens received in 1899 from B. A. 
Mathews, Knoxville, Iowa. Other specimens under name of 
Bicksley from other correspondents were different. Said to 
be a fine variety. 

Blackhawk. — Fruit compressed ; size large to very 
large; suture distinct; color deep red; bloom blue; skin 




144 Plums and Plum Culture 

thick ; flesh yellow, tender ; stone free ; flavor rich and sweet ; 
quality excellent ; season of Wolf. 

Found wild in Black Hawk county, Iowa. By some this is 
thought to be a good variety. Others rate it second class. 
As I have seen it, it is above the average. 

BoMBERGER. — "Growu from seed 
of Harrison's Peach. First 

crop in 1897. Fruit large to very 
large, bright yellow, nearly cov- 
ered with red. Shape nearly 
round, and of fine quality. Tree 
an upright, strong grower and 
quite productive. Ripe midseason." 
— From description of the origina- 
tor, H, A. Terry, Iowa. 

Br.mnerd (Brainerd's Best). — 
A ]\Iinnesota variety mentioned 
by Goff, but thought not worth 
propagating. BIXBY 

Brittlewoo d. — "Form oval 
round; size large; cavity shallow; suture wanting; apex 
rounded; surface smooth but not glossy; color dark red. 
mottled ; dots numerous, small ; bloom thick, grayish ; skin 
thick, slightly astringent; flesh firm, meaty; quality good-; 
stone large, flat, partly free; flavor sharp acid. Tree large, 
spreading, vigorous." — Craig. 

Originated by Theodore Williams, Nebraska. Said to be 
from Harrison Peach pollinated by Quaker. Introduced by 
J. W. Kerr, Maryland, 1896. A promising variety. 

Bryan (W. J. Bryan, Colonel Bryan, etc., would doubtless 
be changed to President Bryan if the chance offered). — "Large 
to very large, rich dark red, oblong, firm, a very fine market 
variety." So says the originator, H. A. Terry of Iowa. 

BuDD (Professor Budd). — "Parentage unknown. Pro- 
duced first crop of fruit in 1897. Tree a remarkably upright 
grower, of fine form and producing great crops of largest size 
and unexcelled in quality, so firm as to render it of great value 
for marketing; fruit brilliant red, with numerous white dots. 
Ripe Sept. i to 10." — Description of the originator, H. A. 
Terry, Iowa. 

BuRSOTO. — Said to be a hybrid of Burbank with De Soto, 
which would be Primus triUora x P. americana. The tree 
and foliage are so strongly Americana in character that the 
variety may best be classed here unless the fruit, which I 
have not seen, shows distinct Japanese characters. Leaves 
very Americana-like in character, though rather thin and soft, 



The Americana Plums Described 145 

large, round oval, pointed above and rounded below, glabrous 
above, rather roughly tomentose over the entire lower surface, 
margin coarsely, deeply irregularly doubly-jagged toothed, 
petiole strong, with one or two glands. 

Originated and named by Theodore Williams, Benson, 
Nebraska. See Vermont experiment station Bulletin 67:8, 
1898. 

California (California Seedling). — Fruit slightly oblate; 
size medium : cavity medium deep, flaring ; stem long ; suture 
a line ; color bright red ; dots many, minute, white ; bloom 
blue ; skin thick, tough ; flesh yellow ; stone medium size, 
nearly round, slightly flattened, cling; quality good; season 
medium. 

Carver. — Fruit round oval; size small; cavity, shallow; 
stem slender; suture a line; color red; dots many, small; 

bloom blue ; skin tough ; 
flesh yellow ; stone medi- 
um size, oval, scarcely 
flattened, cling ; quality 
fair; season late. 

Introduced by Charles 
Luedloff. Cologne, Min- 
nesota. Not a promising 
variety. 

Champion. — Fruit 

round oval ; size large ; 

cavity medium deep, 

rounded ; suture a line ; 

color red over yellow ; 

dots many, large, white ; 

bloom white ; skin firm ; 

flesh yellow ; stone large, 

oval, flattened, cling; 

CHAMPION quality good ; season late. 

Seedling of Hawkeye, 

grown by H. A. Terry, Iowa, and generally regarded as a 

good variety. 

Cherokee. — "Above medium size, mottled red, round 
oblong, cling, Aug. 15-25. Tree lacks vigor and the variety 
will be dropped." — J. W. Kerr, Maryland. Said to have been 
found wild in Kansas. 

Chippewa Y. — Fruit oblong ; size small to medium ; color 
deep red ; skin medium thick ; flesh firm, yellow ; stone small, 
thickened, pointed, free; flavor sweet. 

Generally held to be a poor variety. 

Christie. — The following description is from Craig: 
"Form round truncate; size medium; apex flattened; cavity 
10 




146 Plums and Plum Culture 

wide ; suture wanting ; surface smooth ; color yellow ground, 
covered by red; dots none; bloom light lilac; skin thick; 
flesh yellow, fairly firm, melting; stone circular, thick, lat- 
erally adherent to flesh; flavor sweet, luscious; quality_ best." 

A wild plum taken from the woods by W. Christie, Vil- 
lisca, Iowa, in 1887. 

City. — Fruit irregularly spherical ; size medium large ; 
cavity medium deep ; stem medium ; suture shallow ; color 
dark dull red ; dots very minute ; bloom blue ; skin thick 
and tough ; flesh yellow ; stone large, oval, slightly flattened, 
cling ; quality good ; season medium to late. 

A variety introduced by H. Knudson, Springfield, Minne- 
sota, and highly regarded in that section. New. 

Colorado (Colorado Queen). — A large-fruited variety 
found in some collections, but not a favorite anywhere. 

Comfort. — Fruit oval ; size very small ; cavity shallow ; 
suture a line; color dull red; dots many, minute, conspicu- 
ous; bloom blue; skin thick; flesh yellow; stone small, oval, 
flattened, partly free; flavor sweetish; quality fair; season 
of Wolf. 

Introduced by M. J. Wragg, Waukee, Iowa, in 1879, and 
thought highly of in Iowa. The foregoing description is from 
specimens from J. W. Kerr, Maryland, with whom the variety 
is excessively worthless. 

CoMPTiNE. — Fruit spherical ; size very small ; cavity 
shallow ; suture a line ; color light red ; dots many, minute ; 
bloom blue; skin tough; flesh yellow; stone small, oval, 
scarcely flattened, cling; quality bad; season medium.^ 

Originated at Knoxville, Iowa. Without exception the 
poorest named plum I ever saw. 

Cook's Choice (The Cook's Choice). — Fruit round; size 
medium ; color red over yellow ; bloom bluish ; skin thick ; 
flesh yellow; stone cling; quality good; season medium. 

Originated with H. A. Terry, Iowa, 1891. Ought to be 
renamed or suppressed. 

CoTTRELL. — Large, round oblong, mottled red and yellow, 
the red predominating; skin thin, parting readily from 
flesh, which is pale yellow, sweet and rich, adheres moderately 
to the sharp-edegd, strongly-margined stone. Ripe last of 
August. Described by Goff from samples from O. M. Lord. 
Seedling raised by R. L. Cottrell, Dover, Olmsted county, 
Minnesota, and introduced in 1888 by O. M. Lord, Minnesota. 

Cyclone.— "Grown from seed of Harrison's Peach. First 
crop of fruit in 1897. Tree a vigorous, spreading grower, and 
a fair bearer of fruit of large size, dark red color, and most 
excellent quality. Ripe August 25th to September loth." 
— Description of originator, H. A. Terry of Iowa. 



The Americana Plums Described 147 

Dahlgreen. — Introduced by Charles Liiedloff, Cologne, 
Minnesota, and described by him as "medium, mottled red, 
oblong, freestone, medium season." 

Deepcreek. — Fruit round oblong, compressed ; size me- 
dium ; suture conspicuous ; color dull purple red ; bloom 
blue ; skin thick ; flesh firm ; stone half-free ; flavor sweet ; 
quality good ; a little later than Wolf. 

A variety found wild in Kansas and introduced by Abner 
Alien. Not generally successful. 

Dennis (Dr. Dennis). — Fruit round or slightly oblong; 
size medium ; cavity very shallow ; suture a line ; apex de- 




DES MOINES 



pressed: color bright red; dots many, minute, white; bloom 
blue; skin tough; flesh yellow; stone round flat, cling; 
quality good; season of Weaver; tree not very vigorous. 

Originated with H. A. Terry, Iowa, bore first crop 1891. 
Not very generally recommended. 

Des Moines. — Fruit round oval ; size small ; cavity very 
shallow ; stem short ; suture a line ; color dull red over 
yellow; dots many, minute; bloom blue; skin thick; flesh 
yellow; stone small, oval, flattened, semi-free; quality poor; 
season between Forest Garden and Hammer. 

De Soto.— Fruit oval, very slightly compressed; size 
medium; cavity shallow; stem m.edium long; suture a line; 
apex rounded; color orange heavily overlaid with crimson; 



148 



Plums and Plum Culture 



dots many, reddish ; bloom blue ; skin thick ; flesh yellow, 
firm; stone oval, slightly flattened, cling; quality superior; 
season medium ; August 5-20 in Maryland, September i in 
western New York. Tree not a very good grower and inclined 
to overbear. 

Found wild on the Mississippi at De Soto, Wisconsin, and 
according to Bailey, introduced by Elisha Hale of Lansing. 
Iowa, in 1863 or 1864. Probably the most generally grown of 
any plum of the Americana group. The quality is unsur- 
passed and the productiveness almost too great. Trees should 
be highly fed and the fruit thinned, or the fruit will be small 
and the trees will soon kill themselves by overbearing. This 
has been found to be a profitable market plum as well as an 
excellent sort for home use. J. W. Kerr reports that the tree 
blights badly in Maryland. 

Diana. — "Grown from seed of Hawkeye and produced 
first crop in 1893. Tree a vigorous, rather spreading grower 
and a wonderful bearer of the choicest fruit of large size ; in 
color a dark red on yellowish ground ; a very fine variety. 
Ripe August 20th to 30th." — Advertisement of the originator, 
H. A. Terry, Iowa. 

DuNLAP (No. i). — "Above medium size, slightly oblong, 
red, free ; August 25, September 15. A good variety." — J. W. 
Kerr, Maryland. 

Eldora.. — Another of Mr. Terry's seedlings, described as 
"medium to large, fine bearer, fine quality." Not yet gen- 
erally known. 

Emma. — A new variety originating in 1896 with H. A. 
Terry, Iowa. Yet unintroduced in 1899. "Fruit roundish; skin 
thin ; size fair to medium ; flesh very meaty for one of this 
class ; .stone large, adherent ; flavor rather acid ; quality 
good." — Craig. 

Etta. — "Parentage unknown. Produced first crop in 1895. 
Fruit large, bright yellow, nearly overspread with bright 
crimson. Tree a slow grower, but very productive. Ripens 
midseason." — H. A. Terry, originator, Crescent, Iowa. 

Fairchild. — Fruit oval ; size medium ; color red ; dots 
large; quality fair. Grown by J. H. Fairchild, Iowa, in 189 1. 
Introduced in 1899 by A. Snyder & Son, Center Point, Iowa. 

Forest Garden. — Fruit nearly round ; size large ; cavity 
shallow; suture obscure; color purplish-red over orange; 
dots many, minute, yellow ; bloom thin, blue ; skin thick ; 
flesh yellow or slightly reddened next the stone ; stone round, 
but little flattened, cling ; quality good to best ; season of De 
Soto and Wolf. 

Taken from the woods at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, by Thomas 



The Americana Plums Described 149 

Hare, and introduced by H. C. Raymond of the Forest Garden 
nurseries, Council Bluffs, about 1862. A favorite variety, 
especially in the west. 

Free Silver. — Fruit oval, slightly compressed ; size large ; 
cavity very shallow ; suture a line ; color dark red ; dots 
many, minute ; bloom bluish ; skin thick ; flesh yellow ; stone 
large, round oval, considerably flattened, cling. 

Raised and named by H. A. Terry of Iowa, who also 
originated the variety called W. J. Bryan. Generally thought 
to be one of the most promising new sorts yet introduced. 

Galena. — Introduced by Charles Luedloff, Cologne, Min- 
nesota, and by him described as "large, yellow, with a little 
red, oval, cling, productive." 

Gale (Gale Seedling). — Fruit roundish, compressed; 
size small or medium ; suture distinct ; apex slightly trun- 
cate ; color dull red ; skin thin ; 
flesh yellow, soft; stone thick, 
rounded, nearly free; quality fair 
to good ; season very early. "Tree 
very productive and much given 
to overbearing." Introduced by 
I. Gale & Son of Waukesha, Wis- 
consin ( ?). 

Garden King. — Fruit medium 
to large, oval, scarlet ; flesh sweet, 
juicy, small, freestone; tree rapid 
grower, heavy bearer. — A. R. 
Prescott, Postville, Iowa. 

Found wild in 1853. Judge 

Elias Topliff of De Soto, Wiscon- 

GAYLORD sin, cultivated this in 1861 ; from 

him obtained by A. R. Prescott, 

Postville, Iowa, who introduced it in 1896. — Craig. 

Gates. — "Fruit medium, flattened; suture distinct; very 
dull red with numerous yellowish specks about apex; skin 
thick ; flesh yellow, of fair quality ; stone distinctly margined ; 
season late." — Described by Professor Goff from samples from 
E. H. S. Dartt, Owatonna, Minnesota. 

Originated at Owatonna, Minnesota. 

Gaylord. — Fruit oval ; size large ; cavity very shallow ; 
stem short and stout; suture a line; apex rounded; color 
dull crimson ; dots many, very minute ; bloom blue ; skin 
thick; flesh yellow; stone large, oval, flat, cling; quality 
good to best ; season, medium or early. 

Introduced about 1890 by Edson Gaylord, Nora Springs, 
Iowa. Extensively planted and generally favorably reported. 
Said by many to be a profitable market variety. 




150 Plums and Plum Culture 

Gold (not the Gold of Stark Brothers). — Originated sev- 
eral years ago with H. A. Terry of Crescent, Iowa. Described 
by J- W. Kerr of Maryland as "large, oblong, golden yellow, 
blushed around the stem end with light red, cling; August 
15-25. A very handsome plum of good quality." Appears to 
be a good plum, but not generally grown. 

Gold-Colored. — A variety with this very unacceptable 
name was reported to Professor Goff by Edson Gaylord of 
Iowa. If it is to be introduced to the trade it must certainly 
have a better name. 

Grace. — Fruit oblong ; size above medium ; color yellow, 
striped with red, mottled and washed with dull purple ; dots 
numerous, 3'ellow; bloom thin; skin thick; flesh yellow, 
melting, juicy; stone oval, cling; flavor rich and sw.eet; 
quality very good ; season September in Kansas. 




HAMMER 

Originated with W. R. Grace, Garden City, Kansas, but 
apparently unknown to the nursery catalogs. 

Haag. — "Originated by Jacob Haag, Sioux county, Iowa. 
Tree of medium vigor, but an early and profuse bearer; fruit 
medium size, red and very early in season and extremely high 
in quality. Ripens on my grounds next to Pottawattamie." — 
Description made for Professor Goff by Mr. Hinkley of Iowa. 

Hammer. — Fruit round oval; size medium to large; 
cavity very shallow; suture a line; color crimson; dots 
many, minute and a few larger, yellow; bloom blue; skin 
thick; flesh yellow; stone small, round, slightly flattened, 
nearly free; quaiiiy very good; season after Wolf and 
Weaver. 

Originated with H. A. Terry, Iowa, who says it is a seed- 
ling of Miner, but thinks it has "an admixture of Americana 
blood." Whatever its parentage it is best classified with the 
Americanas. A fine variety. 



The Americana Plums Described 151 

Hanson. — Fruit nearly spherical; size medium; cavity 
shallow, broad; stem short; suture shallow; color bright 
red over yellow ; dots many, dull yellow ; bloom blue ; skin 
very thick ; flesh yellow ; stone medium size, round, slightly 
flattened, cling ; flavor sweet ; quality excellent ; season early. 

"A good market plum." — J. W. Kerr, Maryland. 

Hart (Hart's De Soto). — Fruit oval; size medium; 
cavity shallow, flaring ; stem slender, medium length ; suture 
a line ; color red over orange ; dots many, small, yellow ; 
bloom blue ; skin tough ; flesh yellow ; stone small, oval, 
somewhat flattened, cling; quality good. 




HAWKEYE 

Origin, Iowa. A promising variety. Sent out by Iowa 
agricultural college. 

Hartwtck. — A variety given in some lists, but uniformly 
reported unsuccessful. I have not seen it and do not know 
its history. 

Hawkeye. — Fruit round oval ; size large ; cavity very 
shallow; stem rather long; suture a line; apex sometimes 
slightly depressed: color dull red over yellow; dots many, 
minute; bloom thick, blue; skin thick; flesh yellow; size 
large, oval, flattened, cling; quality, good to best; season of 
Do Soto. 



152 Plums and Plum Culture 

Grown from seed of Quaker by H. A. Terry, Iowa. Bore 
the first crop in 1882. Has been widely distributed and is 
a deserving favorite. Good for market or home use. 

Hiawatha. — Fruit long oval ; size medium to large ; cav- 
ity shallow; suture a line; color dull dark red; dots fine and 
indistinct; bloom blue; skin thick; flesh yellow; stone me- 
dium large, oval, flattened, cling; quality poor; season 
medium to late. Sent out as a curiosity only by C. W. Heide- 
man of New Ulm, Minnesota, and has not proved to be useful 
in orchard culture. 




HOLT 

Hilltop. — Fruit round oval ; size small in the only speci- 
mens examined; cavity shallow; stem short; suture a line; 
color deep red; dots very minute; bloom blue; skin thick; 
flesh yellow; 'stone large, flat, round oval, cling; quality fair 
to good ; season medium to late. 

Holt. — Fruit irregular spherical, compressed ; size _ me- 
dium ; cavity shallow, flaring; stem slender; suture slight; 
color light red ; dots many, minute ; bloom blue : skin very 
thick : flesh yellow ; stone large, round oval, hardly flattened, 
half-free; quality fair to good ; season medium to late. 

Origin with J. B. Holt of Rutland, Ohio(?) Compare 
U. S. Dept. Agr. Pomologist's Rept. 1891, p. 392. 



The Americana Plums Described 153 

Homestead. — A northwestern variety mentioned by Goff. 
No description is at hand. 

Honey. — Fruit oblate; size small; cavity shallow; stem 
short, slender ; suture a line ; color crimson or yellow ; dots 
minute and indistinct; bloom blue; skin thick; flesh yellow; 
stone round, slightly flattened, cling; quality poor; season 
medium to early. 

Conflicting reports are received concerning this variety. 
The quality is usually said to be high, but I have not found 
it so. Some find it productive ; others unproductive. 

HosKiNS. — Described by J. \V. Kerr, Maryland, as follows : 
"Medium size, yellow, freestone; Aug 15-25." 

Hunt. — Flattering reports are received of this plum. I 
have not seen it. It is said to have come from seed of Wild- 
goose, "supposed to have been pollenized by Lombard." Some 
Americana plums also grew in the vicinity of the parent tree. 
Mr. G. B. Brackett says that this variety "appears from foliage 
to be a hybrid between Americana and Domestica. As I have 
seen it growing I do not hesitate to call it pure Americana. 
Originated with Henry Hunt of Dallas county, Iowa, about 
1885. Introduced hy M. J. Graham, Adel, Iowa, 1897. De- 
scribed by Craig as follows : Form roundish, oval, truncate at 
stem end ; size medium ; cavity shallow ; suture clearly defined 
but not depressed; apex lobed slightly; color garnet; dots 
large, numerous ; bloom heavy lilac purple ; skin thin, free 
from astringency ; flesh yellow ; fairly firm, keeps well ; stone 
ovate, winged, large; quality good; a desirable cooker. 

Ida. — Fruit truncated, oval, irregular; size medium, cav- 
ity shallow ; stem short ; suture a line ; color dull red ; dots 
hardly visible; bloom thick, blue; skin thick; flesh light 
yellow; stone round, flattened, cling; quality fair; season 
medium. 

Originated with D. B. Wier of Illinois. 

loNA. — Fruit oval ; size small to medium ; cavity shal- 
low ; suture a line;. color dull red; dots many, fine, yellow; 
bloom bluish; skin thick and tough; flesh yellow; stone 
medium size, oval, only a little flattened, cling; quality fair to 
good ; season late. 

Originated with D. B. Wier of Illinois. 

Iowa. — An Iowa variety unknown to me except from 
young grafts. 

Iowa Beauty. — An Iowa variety which I have seen only 
as nursery stock. Said by John Craig to be "small, regular 
oval, mottled yellow, flesh sweet, melting, season early, quality 



1 54 Plums and Plum Culture 

good." Dr. A. B. Dennis says that its good points are earli- 
ness and high quality. 

Irene. — Fruit oval ; size very small ; cavity shallow ; 
suture a line ; color dark coppery red ; dots very minute ; 
bloom bluish; skin thick and tough; i^esh yellov;^, firm;, stone 
small, oval, not flattened, cling; quality poor; season late. 

Originated with D. B. Wier, Illinois. Worthless. 

Ironclad (Illinois Ironclad). — Fruit round oval; size 
medium; cavity medium deep, flaring; stem slender; suture 
shallow; color dark dull red; dots many, small, yellow; 
bloom thick, blue ; skin thick ; flesh yellow ; stone medium 
large, round oval, flattened, cling; flavor sweetish; quality 
fair to good ; season medium. 

A wild variety from Illinois introduced by Stark Brothers, 
Missouri, in 1890. 

Isaac. — A wild variety from near Lincoln, Nebraska, de- 
scribed as "small, roundish oblong, green ground blushed with 
purplish-red, cling; August 25 to September 10 (Maryland). 
Too small, will be discontinued." — J. W. Kerr. 

Isabella. — "Parentage unknown. Originated in 1893. 
Tree rather low and spreading. Fruit medium to large, round 
as a shot, dark red on yellow ground, fine quality, very pro- 
ductive. Midseason." — Description of the originator, H. A. 
Terry, Iowa. 

Ivason. — "Large, round oblong, purplish-red, semi-cling ; 
August 10-20." — J. W. Kerr, Maryland. "A strong growing 
tree ; fruit looks and tastes much like Wyant, but is distinct 
and larger." — M. S. Hubbell, Toledo, Ohio. Origin, Iowa. 

Jessie. — Fruit oval ; size medium ; cavity shallow, abrupt ; 
suture a line ; apex slightly pointed ; color dark red ; dots 
many, very minute, white ; bloom blue ; skin tough ; flesh 
yellow; stone broadly elliptical, flat, cling; quality good; 
season last of July in southern Kansas. 

A wild variety introduced by Martin Nursery Co., Win- 
field, Kansas, about 1892. 

Joe Hooker. — Fruit round oval ; size medium or larger ; 
cavity shallow ; suture a line ; color red ; bloom blue ; skin 
thick; flesh yellow; stone cling; season late; tree dwarfish, 
with a very odd and characteristic habit. 

Jones. — Fruit oblong ; size medium to large ; color red 
mottled; stone cling; season medium to late. 

Originated under cultivation with Mrs. Owen Jones, Cres- 
cent, Iowa, in 1880. Introduced by H. A. Terry in 1895. 



The Americana Plums Described 



155 



Jones Late. — Fruit long oval ; size large ; color red ; 
stone cling ; season late ; tree vigorous and productive. 
Origin same as Jones (?). 

Kampeska.— Described by J. W. Kerr, Maryland, as "me- 
dium size or slightly above, roundish, purplish-red, cling ; 
August 5-15." Generally discarded. 

KiCKAPOO.— Fruit oval to nearly spherical ; size medium ; 
cavity shallow ; stem short ; suture a line ; color dull red ; 
dots many, conspicuous ; bloom heavy, blue ; skin thick ; flesh 
yellow; stone medium size, oval, slightly flattened, cling; qual- 
ity good; season medium. 

Kieth. — Fruit long oval ; size large to very large ; cavity 
shallow; stem short and stout; suture a faint line; color 

orange overlaid with crimson ; 
dots many, very minute, white ; 
bloom blue ; skin thick ; flesh 
yellow, firm ; stone large, oval, 
somewhat flattened, cling; qual- 
ity good to best; season of De 
Soto and Wolf. 

One of the best Americanas. 

Klondike. — "Golden yellow, 
freestone, very early." Origi- 
nated in Iowa by cross-pollina- 
tion. Introduced 1897 by W. F. 
Heikes, Hunstville, Alabama. 
Originated with J. Wragg & 
Sons, Iowa. 

KIETH Kopp. — Fruit round : size 

large; color purplish-red; stone 
cling; season of Wolf. 

Not widely known nor highly praised. Introduced by O. 
M. Lord, Minnesota City, Minnesota. 

Knudson (Knudson's Peach). — Fruit round oval: size 
above medium ; color purplish-red ; stone cling; a little later 
than Wolf and Weaver. 

Reports on this variety are conflicting. It would be safe 
to plant something else. 

Labert (Labert Red). — Found in some collections. I 
have not seen it and do not know its history. 

La Prairie. — A wild variety taken into cultivation in 1844 
at Shopiere, Wisconsin, and reported to Professor Goff by B. 
H. Smith. No description. 

Late Rollingstone. — Fruit oblate spherical ; size small ; 
cavity shallow ; stem medium ; suture faint ; color red over 




156 Plums and Plum Culture 

yellow ; dots many, dull yellow ; bloom thick, blue ; skin thick, 
tirm ; flesh yellow ; stone medium large, round, slightly flat- 
tened, cling ; quality fair to good ; season medium late. 

Seedling of Rollingstone, grown by O. M. Lord, Minne- 
sota. Thought by some to be the same as Rollingstone, but is 
different, being from one week to ten days later, 

Le Due. — Fruit medium, roundish or slightly oblong, 
slightly flattened, suture rather distinct ; bright red, some 
specimens inclining to orange in spots, with thin bloom ; flesh 
rich yellow, sweet and pleasant ; semi-cling ; skin rather thick, 
a little harsh ; stone rather large, rounded at ends ; season 
medium ; tree vigorous, symmetrical, very productive." — Goff, 
"Fair quality, small size; not superior to many unnamed kinds." 
^Lord, Minnesota. 

Found wild at Hastings, Minnesota, and introduced by 
W. G. Le Due. Professor Goff speaks favorably of this variety, 
but as I have seen it, it is inferior. 

Leonard. — Fruit round oval ; size very small ; cavity 
shallow ; stem slender ; suture shallow ; color dull red ; dots 
minute; blooiri blue: skin very thick; flesh yellow; stone 
small, round oval, flattened, tends to be free; quality fair; 
season of Wolf. 

Not well reported. 

Lillie. — "Grown from seed of Hawkeye. First crop of 
fruit in 1893. Tree a strong, vigorous grower, upright in 
habit, and unusually productive of fruit of large size and best 
quality, in color a very attractive mottled red on yellow ground. 
One of the best varieties. Ripe midseason." — Description of 
the originator, H. A. Terry, Iowa. Favorably mentioned by 
Craig. 

LocKEY. — Unknown to me. Listed by J. W. Kerr, Mary- 
land. 

Lottie. — Described as "large to very large, white or pale 
yellow, freestone, quality best; ripe August 20-30 (in Iowa). 
Tree upright and remarkablv productive." 

Grown from seed of Van Buren by H. A. Terry, Iowa. 
Began bearing in 1895. 

Louisa. — Fruit irregular oval ; size medium ; cavity shal- 
low ; stem short ; suture a line ; color dull red ; dots many, 
small ; bloom thick, blue ; skin thick ; flesh yellow ; stone 
large, oval, flattened, cling; quality medium; season about 
the same as Wolf, Weaver and De Soto. 

Found wild in Missouri and introduced by Samuel Miller, 
Bluffton, Missouri. J. W. Kerr of Maryland says : "Tree vig- 
orous and productive. One of the best market varieties." Also 
favorably reported from Minnesota. 



The Americana Plums Described 157 

Mackland. — Unknown to me. Advertised by J. W. Kerr, 
Mar3dand. 

Manitoba. — "Medium size, roundish oval, clear red, free- 
stone, July 20-30." — J. W. Kerr, Maryland. 
Origin unknown to me. 

Mankato (German Prune Seedling). — Fruit oval; size 
medium to large ; cavity shallow ; stem short ; suture a faint 
line; color dull red; dots many, dull yellow; bloom thick, 
blue ; skin thick, tough ; flesh yellow ; stone large, oval, flat- 
tened, cling; quality good; season medium late. 

Introduced by S. D. Richardson & Son of Winnebago City, 
Minnesota, in 1890. Thought to be a seedling of German 
Prune pollinated by some Americana. This is apparently a 
pure Americana, however. 

Marcellus. — Described as "very large, inclining to ob- 
long, white, becoming light red when fully ripe, quality excel- 
lent, season rather late." 

Grown from seed of Van Buren and fruited in 1893 by the 
mtroducer, H. A. Terry, Iowa. 

Marcus. — Described as follows : "Tree strong, vigorous, 
upright grower, an early and profuse bearer, very regular. 
Fruit very large, round, dark red, of Miner style but larger 
and two weeks earlier. Meaty; quality high when fully ripe." 

Originated by M. E. Hinkley from seed gathered on Little 
Sioux river, Iowa, 1874. 

Marion. — Fruit irregularly spherical ; size large ; cavity 
very shallow ; stem medium ; suture a line ; color dull red 
over yellow ; dots many, yellow ; bloom thick, blue ; skin 
very thick; flesh yellow; stone large, oval, flattened, cling; 
flavor sweet ; quality good ; season medium early. 

Mary. — Described as follows by the originator: "Fruit 
beautiful light red on light yellow ground, fine quality; tree 
rather spreading, but a good healthy grower; season last of 
August (in Iowa)." 

From seed of Van Buren in 1893. Originated by H. A. 
Terry, Iowa. 

Melon. — Said to be "rather a handsome plum of Hawkeye 
season, but no improvement on that variety." 
From Iowa. 

Minnetonka. — "Medium in size, round oblong, dull red; 
skin thick; cling; flowers medium, calyx lobes glandless, 
hairy inside ; leaves medium, pubescent ; glandless, or nearly 
so. Medium season." — Bailey. 

Introduced by P. M. Gideon, Minnesota. 



158 Plums and Plum Culture 

MoLLiE. — A variety originating with Theodore Williams, 
Benson, Nebraska. Not yet generally introduced and un- 
known to me. 

MoNON. — Listed by J. W. Kerr, Denton, Maryland, but 
otherwise unknown to me. 

Moon. — Described as follows by J. W. Kerr, Maryland : 
"Above medium to large, round oblong, purplish, cling, Au- 
gust 5-15 (in Maryland). Will be dropped here." I am un- 
acquainted with the variety. 

MuNCY. — "Large, round oblong, dark purplish, cling; 
August i-io (in Maryland). Will be dropped." — Catalog of 
J. W. Kerr, Maryland. 

MusSEY. — "Very large, round oblong, yellow mottled with 
red, skin medium thick ; flesh firm and excellent ; semi-cling ; 
leaves medium to large, pubescent, glands small or none; very 
late." — Bailey. 

Wild, from Kansas. Introduced by Abner Allen. 

Nellie. — Fruit oblate; size medium to large; cavity 
almost obsolete; stem medium; suture a faint line; apex 
sometimes slightly depressed; color light pinkish; dots 
many, indistinct; bloom blue; skin thick; flesh firm, yellow; 
stone medium size, round, compressed, partly free ; quality 
good ; medium to late. 

Nellie Blanche. — "Parentage unknown. Produced first 
crop in 1897. So far as tested, this is one of the best varieties 
in cultivation. Tree a strong, upright grower, and so enor- 
mously productive that the tree is scarcely able to sustain its 
crop of fruit. Fruit large, oblong, dark mottled red: good 
quality." — From the advertisement of the originator, H. A. 
Terry, Iowa. 

Neverfail. — "Fruit large, round, red, very beautiful, 
quality fine ; ripe about with De Soto. Tree vigorous growth, 
slightly spreading. Purchased of an eastern nurseryman for 
Wolf, not true to name; introduced by J. S. Haag, Hosper, 
Sioux county, Iowa." — Craig. 

Newton Egg. — Fruit oval ; size small ; cavity shallow ; 
suture a line ; color dull red ; dots many, yellow ; bloom blue ; 
skin thick, tough ; flesh yellow ; stone large, long, oval, flat- 
tened, partially free ; quality fair to good ; season of Wolf and 
De Soto. 

Originated with Charles Luedloff, Cologne, Minnesota. 

New LTlm. — Fruit oval ; size large ; cavity shallow ; stem 
stout ; suture a line ; apex slightly pointed ; color orange 
heavily blushed with crimson; dots many, minute, white; 
bloom blue; skin tough; flesh yellow; stone medium size, 



The Americana Plums Described 159 

oval, flattened, cling; flavor sweet; quality good; season 
medium late. Tree a poor grower and subject to blight. 

A Minnesota seedling introduced by C. W. Heideman of 
New Ulm. The fruit is large and fine. 

North Carolina. — No definite information is at hand 
concerning this variety, except that J. W. Kerr of Maryland 
says that the tree blights badly. 

North Star.— ''Ripens a week before De Soto ; a trifle 
larger, a little more oblong; juicy, sweet. Tree hardy, dwarf- 
ish; quality good; cling." — Penning, Minnesota. 

Noyes. — Found in a few collections. Round, medium 
size, red, cling, season medium late. Perhaps this ought to be 
put into the Miner group. 

OcHEEDA. — Fruit oblique oval ; size medium ; cavity shal- 
low and small ; stem stout ; suture faint ; color crimson ; dots 
medium large, yellow ; bloom heavy, blue ; skin tough ; flesh 
yellow; stone medium size, oval, slightly flattened, cling; 
quality very good ; season of Wolf and De Soto. Productive. 

A wild Minnesota seedling introduced by H. J. Ludlow, 
Worthington, Minnesota. Generally regarded as valuable. 

Old Gold. — Fruit round oval ; size medium ; cavity very 
shallow; stem slender; suture a line; color faint crimson 
overlying very pretty old gold ; dots minute ; bloom thin ; 
skin thick ; flesh j^ellow ; stone medium size, round oval, 
"flattened, cling; quality fair to good; season of Wolf and 
De Soto. 

Introduced by C. W. Heideman, Mintiesota. Reports con- 
cerning the merits of this plum are conflicting. 

Omega. — "Parentage unknown. Produced first crop of 
fruit in 1897. Tree a model of perfection, unsurpassed in 
beauty and healthfulness and also in productiveness. Fruit 
very large, slightly oblong, light red, mottled and splashed 
with darker red, nearly covered with lightish dots. Very firm, 
a fine shipper ; will keep in good condition several days after 
ripe. So far as tested, this will rank as one of the most profit- 
able varieties in cultivation for market purposes. Ripe Sep- 
tember 25th to October loth." — From the advertisement of 
the originator, H. A. Terry, Iowa. 

Owatonna. — "Fruit large, oblong, red throughout; suture 
distinct; of fair quality; stone rather thick. The tree is said 
to be moderately productive." — Goff. 

Originated at Owatonna, Minnesota. 

Pearl. — Described as follows : "Fruit white or pale yel- 
low, ripening to light red ; tree a fine upright grower ; a good 
market variety; ripens last of August (in Iowa)." 



i6o Plums and Plum Culture 

From seed of Van Biiren. Bore first crop in 1896. Origi- 
nated with H. A. Terry, Iowa. 

Peffer Premium. — Fruit slightly oblate; size small to 
medium ; cavity very shallow ; stem medium long ; suture a 
faint line ; color red over orange ; dots many, small ; bloom 
blue; skin rather thin; flesh yellow; stone round, flattened, 
cling or partially free ; quality fair ; season of Wolf. 

A wild plum from Wisconsin, introduced by George P. 
Peffer, Pewaukee. 

Penning (Penning's Free). — A variety grown by M. Pen- 
ning, Minnesota, but not yet generally distributed. 

Pilot. — Professor Goff gives the following account of this 
variety. "Originated by M. E. Hinkley, 1874, from seed gath- 
ered on Little Sioux river, Cherokee county, Iowa. Tree 
bushy, spreading top, low. Fruit egg-shaped, very large, mot- 
tled yellow and pink; very prolific. Quality high for dessert. 
Pit long and thin, prune-shaped. Season medium. When 
ripening in wet season perhaps 10 per cent will crack on tree. 
Pronounced by local judges 'best' of twenty named sorts." 

Plunk (Large Red Sweet). — Fruit round; size large; 
color dark red; stone cling; quality good; season of Wolf. 
Introduced by Charles Luedloff, Cologne, Minnesota. 

Purple Yosemite. — Fruit irregular oval ; size large ; 
cavity shallow; stem short; suture a line; color dull orange 
red ; dots many, minute : bloom thick, blue ; skin very thick ; 
flesh yellow: stone large, oval, flattened, cling; flavor sweet- 
ish ; quality fair ; season medium to late. 

Reported favorably by some ; unfavorably by others. 

Quaker. — Fruit round oval ; size large to very large ; 
cavity shallow ; stem long, strong ; suture a line ; color dark 
red ; dots many, yellowish ; bloom thick, blue ; skin thick ; 
flesh yellow; stone large, oblique oval, flattened, more or less 
free ; quality good to best ; season medium early. J. W. Kerr, 
Maryland, says the tree blights. 

Professor Bailey says that this was discovered wild by 
Joseph Bundy of Springville, Linn county, Iowa. Dissemi- 
nated about 1862 by H. C. Raymond. Council Bluffs, and by 
him named Quaker in compliment to Mr. Bundy, who is a 
Quaker. The quality is high ; in fact this is one of the best 
of the Americanas. It is regarded by many as being a choice 
variety in all respects. 

Quality. — Under this illegitimate name there has been a 
variety distributed by Edson Gaylord of Iowa. 

Queen (Golden Queen). — "Fruit very large, roundish 
oblong, bright golden yellow, delicious in quality, unexcelled 



The Americana Plums Described i6i 



for canning and very fine for eating out of hand or for slicing 
and serving with sugar and cream like peaches ; ripens latter 
part of August to September loth (in Iowa). Tree a fine 
upright grower, with broad, healthy foliage." — Terry. 

Originated with H. A. Terry, Iowa. Parentage unknown. 
Bore its first crop in 1897. 




ROCKFORD 

Rareripe. — Mentioned by Keffer (South Dakota experi- 
ment station bulletin 26), but now apparently out of cultivation. 

Reel. — "Grown from seed of Van Buren. First crop in 
1896. Fruit large, white or pale yellow, with a beautiful red 
cheek, and of most excellent quality. Tree vigorous and 
healthy and very productive. Ripens last of August (in Iowa)." 
— From description of the originator, H. A. Terry, Iowa. 

RocKFORD. — Fruit round oval ; size medium ; cavity me- 
dium deep, rounded ; stem short ; suture shallow ; apex some- 
II 



1 62 Plums and Plum Culture 

times slightly depressed; color dark wine red; dots very 
minute; bloom heavy, bluish; skin thick and tough; flesh 
yellow; stone large oval, hardly flattened, cling; quality good 
to best; season medium early, productive. 

A wild variety introduced by C. G. Patten, Charles City, 
Iowa, 1889, and generally regarded as valuable. 

Rocky Mountain (Rocky Mountain Dwarf). — Fruit 
irregular spherical; size small; cavity shallow; stem slender; 
suture a faint line ; apex slightly depressed ; color dull red ; 
dots many, small ; bloom blue ; skin thin ; flesh yellow ; stone 
round, hardly flattened, cling; flavor sweetish; quality fair. 
Tree stocky and dwarfish, with very dark-colored bark, show- 
ing some characteristics of the Nigra group. 

Sent out as a curiosity by C. W. Heidman of Minnesota. 
Worthless. 




ROSELLE 

RoLLiNGSTONE. — Fruit irregular spherical ; size medium 
or larger ; cavity shallow ; stem long ; suture faint ; color 
dull red ; dots minute ; bloom thick, blue ; skin thick ; flesh 
yellov/ ; stone medium size, round, flattened, cling ; flavor 
sweet ; quality fair to good ; season medium early. 

Found over thirty years ago on the bank of the Rolling- 
stone creek, Winona county, Minnesota, by O. M. Lord, and 
introduced by him about 1882. This variety has been widely 
distributed. In 1892 Professor Bailey said it was "one of the 
leading varieties." This is probably not true to-day, though 
it is still largely grown and highly regarded by some. Still 
the large number of good varieties introduced in recent years 
has left this somewhat in the shade. 

RosELLE. — Fruit round oval ; size large ; color yellow 
with red cheek ; stone nearly free ; flavor sweet ; quality good ; 
season September. 

Originated with Ernest Hoffman, Roselle, Iowa, in 1892. 



The Americana Plums Described 163 

Rue (J. B. Rue). — Fruit round; size small; cavity shal- 
low, flaring ; stem short, slender ; suture a line ; apex slightly- 
flattened ; color red over orange ; dots very small, white ; 
bloom blue; skin tough; flesh yellow; stone round, not 
flattened, free; season medium late. 

Comes from Iowa. 

Sada. — Fruit spherical; size medium or larger; cavity- 
shallow ; stem medium ; suture a line ; color red ; dots many, 
conspicuous, medium size; bloom blue; skin thick and tough; 
flesh yellow; stone medium size, round, slightly flattened, 




SMITH 

cling; quality fair to good; season medium; tree upright, 
productive. 

Grown from seed of Van Buren by H. A. Terry, Iowa. 
First crop in 1893. 

Silas Wilson. — Fruit irregular oval ; size large ; cavity 
very shallow; stem stout; suture a line: color dull yellowish 
with a crimson blush, or in the sun, red all over ; dots many, 
red and yellow ; bloom blue ; skin thick, tough ; flesh yellow ; 
stone large, oval, flattened, cling ; quality fair to good ; season 
medium to late. 



164 Plums and Plum Culture 

Grown by H. A. Terry, Iowa, from seed of Hawkeye, 
fruiting first in 1891. As I have seen this variety, it is superior. 

Sloe. — Fruit oval ; size small ; cavity shallow, flaring ; 
stem medium; suture a line; color bright red; dots many, 
white; bloom blue; skin thick; flesh yellow; stone medium 
size, oval, slightly flattened, cling; season early. 

This variety is worthless as I have seen it. 

Smith. — Fruit irregular oval ; size large to very large ; 
cavity very shallow ; stem short and stout ; suture shallow ; 
color red or crimson over yellow ; dots minute, indistinct ; 
bloom thick, blue ; skin thick, tough ; flesh firm, yellow ; stone 
large, broad oval, flattened, free ; quality good to best ; season 
medium early; tree vigorous and productive. 

Grown from seed of Quaker by C. A. Smith, Caroline 
county, Maryland. One of the best Americanas I ever saw. 

Snooks. — Fruit oval; size large; cavity shallow, flaring; 
suture a line ; apex slightly pointed ; color orange with red 
blush ; dots many, small, white ; bloom blue ; skin tough ; 
flesh yellow; stone medium size, elliptical, flattened, cling; 
flavor sweetish ; quality good ; season medium to late. 

Minnesota ( ?). Thought by Craig to be the same as 
New Ulm. 

Speer. — Fruit irregular oval ; size medium ; cavity shal- 
low ; stem medium long ; suture a line ; color light red ; dots 
many, minute; bloom thick, bluish; skin very thick; flesh 
yellow; stone, large, oval, slightly flattened, cling; quality 
good ; season medium late. 

Originated with J. A. Speer, Iowa. Very hardy. 

Stella. — Grown by Theodore Williams of Benson, 
Nebraska, and named after his daughter. He says it is the 
earliest Americana, ripening with him about August ist. He 
claims it to be of extra large size and fine quality. Not yet 
generally introduced. 

Stoddard. — Fruit oblique oval ; size large ; cavity none ; 
stem short and stout ; suture a faint line ; color pinkish red 
over yellow ; dots very many, small, white ; bloom bluish ; 
skin very thick ; flesh yellow ; stone medium large, round- 
oval, flattened, cling; quality good; season medium early. 

Introduced about 1895 by M. J. Wragg, Waukee, Iowa. 
Does well almost everywhere. Apparently one of the best and 
most reliable varieties of this group. 

Truro. — Fruit oblong; size large; cavity small, shallow; 
suture shallow; color red; dots numerous, minute; bloom 



The Americana Plums Described 165 

whitish; skin thin; flesh yellow; stone medium size, oval, 
cling ; quality good ; season late ; tree upright. 

Said to be a seedling of Weaver crossed with Miner ; 
grown by E. W. Tucker, Williamsfield, Illinois, about 1895. 

Van Buren. — Fruit round oblong ; size large ; color 
purplish-red ; bloom blue ; skin thick ; flesh yellow ; stone 
cling ; season medium to late ; young shoots pubescent. 

An Iowa seedling introduced by J. Thatcher. 

U. S. (Brittlewood No. 2). — Spherical, large to very large, 
dark purplish-red, cling, medium to late. 

Originated with Theodore Williams, Nebraska. 

Van Deman. — Fruit oval, compressed ; size large ; cavity 
shallow; stem short and stout; suture a line; color dull red 




STODDARD 



over green, with red specks ; dots many, minute, yellow ; 
bloom bluish ; skin thick ; flesh yellow ; stone medium size, 
oval, somewhat flattened, cling ; quality good ; season late. 

Grown by H. A. Terry, Iowa, from seed of Hawkeye, 1891. 
Not generally reported favorably. 

Vermillion (Le Due Vermillion). — Fruit round oblong •• 
size medium; color bright red; bloom bluish; skin thick; 
flesh yellow; stone cling; quality good; season late. 

Origin same as Le Duc( ?) 

Warren. — "Grown from seed of Hawkeye. Produced first 
crop in 1897. Fruit large, light mottled red with white bloom. 
Excellent quality. Season late in August (in Iowa)." — From 
advertisement of the originator, H. A. Terry, Iowa. 

Watrous (Captain Watrous). — "From seed of Harrison's 
Peach. First crop in 1897. Tree an upright, vigorous grower 



1 66 Plums and Plum Culture 

and very productive of fruit of very large size ; yellov^ ground 
nearly covered with bright red ; in shape nearly round, and 
of excellent quality. Ripe last of August (in Iowa)." — De- 
scription of the originator, H. A. Terry, Iowa. 

Weaver. — Fruit oval, compressed ; size large ; cavity 
medium deep, rather abrupt ; suture rather prominent ; color 
orange heavily overlaid with red ; dots many, minute ; bloom 
bluish ; skin thick ; flesh firm, yellow ; stone large, elliptical, 
pointed, flattened, half-free; quality good; season .medium 
late; tree a strong upright grower, productive. 




WEAVER 

Found wild near Palo, Iowa, by Mr. Weaver. Introduced 
by Ennis and Patten, 1875. Has been widely distributed and 
is a good reliable variety. 

WiLDROSE. — Fruit round, medium to large, red over yel- 
low, stone cling, season medium. 

A Minnesota wild seedling introduced in 1880 by A. W. 
Sias, Rochester, Minnesota. Not generally commended. 

Winnebago. — "Above medium size, round oblong, usually 
with one side larger than the other, bright cherry red, cling. 
Will be dropped." — ^J. W. Kerr, Maryland. Season medium 
early. 

Origin, Minnesota. Reports of this variety are almost 
unanimously unfavorable. 



The Americana Plums Described 167 

Wolf. — Fruit oval or round oval ; size medium to large ; 
cavity shallow ; suture a faint line ; color crimson over 
orange, marked like a bird's egg; dots several, red, pretty; 
bloom bluish ; skin thick, tough ; flesh yellow ; stone medium 
large, oval, slightly flattened, perfectly free; quality fair to 
good, season medium early; tree a good grower and pro- 
ductive. 

Originated On the farm of D. B, WoH, Wapello county, 
Iowa, about 1852. One of the most popular'of all native plums. 
Professor Goff says of it: "No variety has been more gen- 




WYANT 

erally commended than this. It is pronounced productive and 
regular in bearing from southern Iowa and Nebraska to Stone- 
wall, Manitoba, and appears to be generally satisfactory. Some 
regard it rather too acid for culinary use." 

Wonder (Nebraska Wonder of Sayles). — "Fruit large, 
round, a trifle smaller but resembling Green Gage in color, 
form and flavor ; slight yellow tinge, mottled red when over- 
ripe, without astringency ; ships well ; season ten days earlier 
than Miner. Tree dwarfish, symmetrical, spreading, exceed- 
ingly prolific and a very early bearer." — Craig. 

Found wild in 1892 by A. Webster, Burt county, Nebraska ; 
introduced by H. P. Sayles, Ames, Iowa, in 1897. 



1 68 Plums and Plum Culture 



Wood. — Fruit somewhat conical; size medium; cavity 
deep, flaring; stem short, slender; suture a line; apex 
pointed; color orange blushed with crimson; dots many, 
minute, white ; bloom light, blue ; skin tough ; flesh yellow ; 
stone oval, flat, cling ; flavor sweetish ; quality good ; season 
medium. 

Wyant. — Fruit oblique oval, compressed ; size medium 
to large ; cavity shallow, flaring ; stem medium ; suture a line ; 
color pinkish-red; dots many, indistinct; bloom thick, blue; 
skin thick, firm ; flesh yellow ; stone medium, round oval, 
flattened, cling; quality good; season medium; tree spread- 
ing, strong grower, very productive. The Wyant plum origi- 
nated at Waterloo, Iowa, with Mrs. Mary A. Wyant, who in 
1871 planted the seed from a wild plum tree which bore extra 
large fruit. She says that the Wyant is not like the parent 
plum, however. Introduced to the public through Professor 
J. L. Budd. 

Yellow Sweet. — Fruit round oblong, compressed ; size 
medium; color orange, heavily marked with purplish-red; 
bloom bluish ; skin thick ; flesh yellow ; stone round, flat, 
cling or partly free; flavor very sweet; quality good; season 
medium early. 

Origin, Minnesota ( ?). Of doubtful value. 

Yellow Yosemite. — A variety of no value, mentioned in 
some lists. I do not know it nor do I find any authentic 
description. 




XXI 



The Nigra Plums Named ami Described 





|a 





ITKEN. — Fruit oblique oval ; size 
medium to large ; cavity shallow ; 
stem medium long; suture a dim 
line ; color even dark red ; dots very 
minute, hardly visible ; skin thin, re- 
markably so for a plum of this 
group; flesh yellow; stone large, 
oval, very much flattened, cling; 
flavor moderately rich and sweet ; 
quality good; season medium to 
early; tree vigorous and productive. 
Found wild in Aitken county, 
Minnesota, by D. C. Hazelton ; in- 
troduced in 1896 by Jewell Nursery company, Lake City, Min- 
nesota. A promising new variety, highly regarded in the 
northwest. 

AUGUST.- 

stone cling. 

"Trees quite distinct in appearance, owing to the apricot- 
like foliage. Rapid, upright, nice growers, but not productive 
and will be dropped." — J. W. Kerr. 

Cheney. — Fruit irregularly oval : size large ; cavity very 
shallow; stem stout; suture a faint line: apex slightly 
oblique, truncate; color dark, rather dull red; dots minute; 
bloom blue; skin thick; flesh firm and yellow; stone large, 

169 



-Fruit oblong; size large; color purplish-red; 



lyo 



Plums and Plum Culture 



pointed, oval, much flattened, cling; quality fine; season early. 
Tree a fine vigorous upright grower, with handsome, large 
ornamental flowers. 

Found in Norman ravine, a few miles below La Crosse, 
Wisconsin, and introduced by E. Marcle, La Crosse. One of 
the best and hardiest varieties. 

Crimson. — Described by Craig as follows: ''Fruit large, 
1% to 1% inches, light red, very showy; skin thin; stone 




CHENEY 



rather long, large, flattish; quality good; season earliest- 
last of July. Tree does not sprout, blossoms very early." — H. 
Knudson, Springfield, Minnesota. 

Introduced by H. Knudson, Springfield, Minnesota. 

Harrison (Harrison's Peach). — Fruit oval; size me- 
dium; cavity shallow; stem short, stout; suture a line; color 
dull dark red ; dots minute, inconspicuous ; bloom thick, 
blue ; flesh yellow, red next the stone ; stone medium large, 



The Nigra Plums Described 171 

oval, flattened, nearly free; flavor very sweet; quality good; 
season medium. 

Itasca. — Fruit oblong; size medium; color dull purplish- 
red; flesh fine, yellow; stone cling; quality fair; season 
medium. 

Introduced by P. M. Gideon of Minnesota and by W. F. 
Heikes ; origin, Minnesota. As I have seen this variety grow- 
ing in Maryland it is entirely worthless. 

Odegard. — A new variety of which I have seen specirnens 
but of which I have no description. Originated at Brookings, 
South Dakota, ten or twelve years ago from seed sent from 
Minnesota. Introduced by A. Norby, Madison, South Dakota. 
Seems to belong in the Nigra group. 

Oxford. — "Season early August. The earliest variety 
fruited here. Good cooker. Size of Forest Garden; round 
oval, deep red; rather thick skin; stone large, thin, cling; 
flesh orange-yellow, fair consistency, good flavor ; poor 
keeper. Tree closely resembles Aitkin in foliage, color of 
wood, habit of growth and quality of fruit." — Harris, Minne- 
irota, in Goff Wisconsin station Bulletin 63. 

Seper (Seper's Peach).— Fruit round, oblong; size large; 
color dark red; stone cling. 

Not much grown. I have never seen the fruit. 

Smith Red.— Fruit round oval ; size large or extra large 
for a plum of this group; cavity shallow; stem short, stout; 
suture a faint line; color dull red; dots minute; bloom thin, 
blue; skin thick; flesh yellow; stone large, oval, flattened, 
cling; quality fair to good; season medium. Tree vigorous 
with good foliage. 

"The finest variety of the group with me."— J. W. Kerr. 

Wazata.— Size small or medium; color dull red; skin 
thick; flesh vellow ; stone cling; season medium to late. 

Found wild in Minnesota and introduced by P. M. Gideon 
and W. F. Heikes. Worthless. 

Williams.— Described by J. W. Kerr as follows: "Large, 
oblong, pointed, red, cling ; only moderately productive." 




XXII 



TJic Miner-like Plums Named and Described 




LINTON. — Fruit spherical ; size me- 
dium ; cavit}' shallow ; stem slender ; 
suture a line; color dull red (not 
dark) ; dots many, yellow ; bloom 
thin ; skin firm ; flesh yellow ; stone 
oval, scarcely flattened, cling; quality 
medium ; season late. 

Crescent City. — Fruit oval ; size 
medium; cavity shallow; suture a 
faint line ; color dull red ; dots many, 
minute; bloom thin, blue; skin me- 
dium thick ; flesh yellow ; stone large, 
oval, slightly flattened, cling; quality fair; season medium late. 
Originated with H. A. Terry, Crescent, Iowa. 

Decker (Decker's Seedling). — Fruit somewhat conical; 
size medium to large ; suture distinct ; apex obscurely 
pointed ; color red ; dots many, yellowish ; skin thin, free 
from harshness ; flesh yellow ; stone thick, rough, obscurely 
margined, nearly free; flavor "rich and delicious" (Goff) ; 
season medium. 

Introduced about 1897 by W. S. Wedmoyer, Dresbach, 
Minnesota. "Thought by some to be identical with Miner." 

172 



The Miner-like Plums Described 173 

Emerson. — Professor Goff mentions a plum under this 
name which he refers to the Miner group. This cannot be 
the Emerson described in this work with the Chicasaws. If 
it is a separate variety of any importance it should have 
another name. 

Esther. — Fruit round oval; size medium; cavity shal- 
low; stem strong; suture aline; color dark red; dots many, 
large and small, yellow ; bloom thin, bluish ; skin thick, firni ; 
flesh yellow; stone small, oval, slightly flattened, cling; 
quality good ; season medium early. 

Introduced by H. A. Terry, Iowa, 1885. 

Forest Rose. — Fruit oval ; size large ; cavity very shal- 
low ; stem stout; suture a line; color dull red; dots many, 
small, yellow ; bloom thin ; skin medium thick ; flesh yellow ; 
stone medium large, oval, hardly flattened, cling; quality 
good ; season medium late. 

"A Missouri wild variety introduced by William Stark in 
1878." A fine plum, perhaps the best of the Miner group. 

Idall. — Fruit irregular round oval ; size large ; cavity 
shallow; stem strong; suture a line; color red; dots many, 
minute and some large ; bloom blue ; skin thick and tough ; 
flesh yellow; stone large, round, hardly flattened, cling; 
quality good ; season late. 

Said by the originator, D. B. Wier of Illinois, to be a 
cross between Miner and Wildgoose. Spelled also Idol. Mr. 
Wier himself used both spellings. 

Indiana (Indiana Red). — Fruit oval; size medium to 
large; cavity shallow; stem slender; suture a line; color 
red ; dots many, small, white ; bloom thin ; skin tough ; flesh 
yellow; stone large, oval, little flattened, cling; quality fair; 
season late. 

"Said to have been an Indiana wild variety and to have 
been introduced by Dr. I. Cramer." — Bailey. 

Iris. — Fruit oval ; size very small ; cavity shallow ; suture 
a line; color crimson; dots many, minute; bloom thin; skin 
tough; flesh yellow; stone small, oval, not flattened, cling; 
quality poor ; season medium to late. 

Originated and introduced by D. B. Wier, Illinois. 
Worthless. 

Maquoketa. — Fruit round oblong ; size medium to large ; 
color red; skin thick; stone cling; quality good; season 
medium to late. 

Found on the Maquoketa river in eastern Iowa. Reported 
not hardy in Minnesota. A good variety. 

Miner (Parsons). — Fruit round oblong; size medium, 
often small; cavity shallow; stem slender; suture a line; 



174 Plums and Plum Culture 

color dull red ; dots many, yellow, conspicuous ; bloom bluish ; 
skin thick; flesh yellow; stone medium large, oval, slightly 
flattened, cling ; quality fair to good. 

One of the oldest native plums known ; originated in 1814 
in Knox county, Tennessee. Not so valuable as its wide repu- 
tation might indicate. Bailey gives the following history of 
this variety: "Said by Downing to have originated with Mr. 
Miner, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, but this is a mistake. 
The seed which produced the Miner plum was planted in 1814, 
in Knox county, Tennessee, by William Dodd, an officer under 
General Jackson. Dodd appears to have had two batches of 
seed, one of which he gathered the year before upon Talaposa 
creek, and the other given him by an Indian chief. It is not 
clear from which lot this plum sprung. The plum gained 
some notice when it came into bearing, and was known as Old 
Hickory and General Jackson. In 1823 or 1824 Dodd moved 
to Illinois and settled near Springfield, taking some sprouts of 
his plum with him. The plums soon attracted attention 
among Dodd's neighbors, and the variety was called in its new 
home William Dodd and Chickasaw Chief. The year follow- 
ing William Dodd's removal to Illinois, his brother moved to 
Galena, Illinois, and took some of the plums. About Galena 
the plum became known as the Hinckley. I do not know how 
the name Miner came to be applied to it, but Downing's ref- 
erence to Mr. Miner of Pennsylvania — who probably grew 
and disseminated it — undoubtedly explains it. It is said by 
D. B. Wier that the late Hon. James G. Soulard of Galena 
introduced this plum to general cultivation, and I repeated 
this statement last year in a discussion of the Soulard crab. 
(For a fuller history of the Miner, see A. Giddings in Iowa 
Agricultural Report, 1871, 332.) Downing gives Hinckley, 
Isabel, Gillett, Townsend and Robinson as synonyms of 
Miner. The Robinson now known is a very different fruit." 

Nebraska. — Fruit oval ; size medium ; cavity shallow ; 
suture a line ; color red ; dots many, fine, yellow ; bloom 
blue; skin thick, tough; flesh yellow; stone medium size, 
oval, slightly flattened, cling; quality" fair to good. 

Oren. — "Form truncate, flattened, irregular; size large; 
apex oblique, basin slightly depressed ; cavity none, flat ; 
suture a dark red line not indented; surface smooth, not 
shiny; color greenish-yellow, yellowish-red to dark red; dots 
grayish marbling; bloom thin, purplish; skin thick, tough, 
acid, very slightly astringent ; flesh firm, deep orange yellow ; 
stone large oval, flat winged, adherent; flavor pleasant acid; 
quality good." — Craig. 

The history of this variety is given by Mr. Oren as fol- 
lows : "In the fall of 1876, I came from Benton county to this 



The Miner-like Plums Described 175 

locality, Spring Creek township, Black Hawk county, Iowa. 
Calling on Mr. Bingaman (now dead) I noticed a few young 
plum trees standing in his garden full of these plums. I 
bought a farm adjoining Mr. Bingaman; in the fall of 1878 
I moved on the farm. Noticing at the edge of some timber 
and brush, a plum tree, apparently very old, that bore these 
plums (it is now dead), and some young trees standing at 
some distance from the old tree, I dug up and planted these 
young trees. From these I plucked the plums I sent you in 
September. These trees sprouted ; so did those in Mr. Binga- 
man's garden ; we permitted any person to take them that 
wanted them and they were gathered and distributed over this 
section of country and sent as far north as Minnesota, and to 
Nebraska. Some years ago Mr. Williams of Cedar Falls, now 
dead, came here and gathered all the trees he could get, and 
an armful of scions. He owned a nursery at that time there. 
I never heard anything from him after." 

Prairie Flower. — Fruit round oval ; size medium to 
large ; cavity shallow, flaring ; stem medium ; suture a line ; 
color red over light yellow ; dots many, yellow, conspicuous ; 
bloom thin, bluish ; skin thick ; flesh yellow ; stone medium 
large, oval, slightly flattened, cling; quality excellent; season 
medium late. 

Introduced by Stark Brothers, Missouri, about 1884, from 
Adrian county, Missouri. One of the best of the group. 

Rachel. — Fruit oval : size small ; cavity shallow ; stem 
medium long ; suture a line ; color bright red ; dots many, 
conspicuous ; bloom blue ; skin thick ; flesh yellow ; stone 
oval, thickened, cling; quality fair; season medium to late. 

Origin unknown. 

Surprise. — Fruit roundish oval; size large to very large; 
cavity small ; stem medium long ; suture distinct ; apex 
sometimes obscurely pointed ; color bright red ; dots many, 
minute, yellowish ; skin thin, tender ; flesh pale yellow, fibrous, 
firm; stone oval, double-pointed, obscurely margined, cling; 
flavor rich; quality extra good. 

Professor Goff, to whom I am indebted for this descrip- 
tion, says that the tree is a good grower and promises to be 
productive. He thinks it is the finest in quality of the native 
plums. Recently introduced by Martin Penning, Sleepy Eye, 
Minnesota. 

Wier CWier's Large Red). — Fruit round; size large; 
color red ; flesh yellow ; stone cling ; quality fair to good. 
Originated by D. B. Wier, Illinois. Not favorably known. 

Wilder (Colonel Wilder). — Fruit unequally elliptical; 
size medium to large; stem slender, persistent; color dark 



iy6 Plums and Plum Culture 

dull red ; dots white, numerous ; bloom white ; skin medium 
thick, firm ; flesh firm, meaty, yellow ; stone medium size, 
elliptical, cling; quality best; season medium to late. 

Introduced by H. A. Terry, Iowa, 1888. Said to be a 
seedling of Wildgoose. This plum is anomalous in character. 
It seems to belong in the Miner group, but may perhaps be 
more at home in the Wildgoose group. 




XXIII 



The Wayland-likc Plums Named and Described 




AH MERICAN GOLDEN.— Leaves are of 
( the Wayland type, large, with crenu- 
I lations less appressed than is usual 

in this group : petioles glandular ; 
fruit slightly ellipsoid, medium size, 
cavity very shallow ; stem medium 
long, slender ; faint suture line ; color 
bright golden yellow, solid ; stone 
medium large, turgid, cling; flavor 
sweet but sprightly; quality good. 
Season late August and September. 
Introduced by James B. Wild & 
Brothers, Sarcoxie, Missouri. Originated from seed planted 
near that place. Very similar to Golden Beauty. 

Benson. — Fruit oval; size medium; cavity shallow; stem 
slender; suture a line; color bright red; dots many, yellow- 
ish; bloom thin; skin medium thick; flesh yellow; stone 
medium size, oval, scarcely flattened, cling ; quality fair ; sea- 
son medium late. 

Originated with Theodore Williams, Benson, Nebraska. 
Named and sent out by J. W. Kerr in 1898. 

Captain.— (Synonym of Columbia, but not of the Domes- 
tica variety of this name described by Downing in Fruit and 

12 177 



178 



Plums and Plum Culture 



Fruit Trees of America, ist ed. [1845] p. 292). Fruit medium 
to large, spherical, bright golden yellow, with many conspicu- 
ous whitish dots, also with some fine black dots, the white dots 
appearing to be beneath the skin, suture line hardly visible, skin 
thin but tough; fiesh medium firm, yellow; stone small, cling; 
quality good. 

Crimson Beauty. — ''Same type as Golden Beauty, ripening 
two weeks earlier, the tree somewhat more vigorous. Crimson 
Beauty is very similar to Wayland and Erby September, and 
I am not prepared to say yet that it is any better." — J. S. Kerr, 
Texas. 




CUMBERLAND 



"Tree much more vigorous, with heavier twigs and larger 
foliage than Golden Beauty." — J. W. Kerr, Maryland. 

Cumberland. — Fruit slightly ovate or oblong, of large 
size, bright golden yellow, with many conspicuous whitish dots 
and sometimes with small black dots also ; bloom white ; skin 
thick and firm ; flesh rather firm and meaty ; stone medium 
large, cling ; quality good ; tree a vigorous grower, bark of 
young twigs yellowish, similar to Golden Beauty and Captain ; 
quite productive. Introduced by Philip Schley, who gathered 
the pits from trees growing in the Cumberland mountains in 
Tennessee in 1864. There were a number of seedlings pro- 
duced, but Cumberland, named by P. J. Berckmans, was the 
only one of value. Favorably reported from Louisiana. 



The Wayland-like Plums Described 179 

Garfield. — Fruit oval ; size small and irregular ; cavity 
shallow; stem slender; suture faint line; color bright red; 
dots many, yellov^ ; bloom very thin ; skin thin ; flesh yellow ; 
stone small, long oval, not flattened, cling; quality poor to 
fair ; season medium to late. 




GOLDEN BEAUTY 



Said to have been found wild in Ohio. Introduced in 1887 
by the late Leo Welz of Wilmington. Ohio. 

Golden Beauty. — Fruit spherical or nearly so, medium to 
large in size with a distinct suture line ; color bright golden 
yellow, with many distinct white dots and a white bloom ; skin 
firm ; flesh firm, meaty, bright yellow ; stone small, rounded, 



8o 



Plums and Plum Culture 



cling; quality best. From southwest Texas. Introduced by Gil- 
bert Onderdonk in 1874. It is said that this variety was brought 
from the headwaters of the Colorado river in western Texas 




KANAWHA 



by a German during the civil war. After the war he planted 
it in a yard in Victoria county, Texas, where it attracted the 
attention of Mr. Onderdonk, who introduced it. 



The Wayland-like Plums Described i8i 

Irby (synonym of Erby September of various catalogs). — 
"Fiery red; glossy, large as Clinton or Parsons (Miner), very 
similar to Golden Beauty, except in color; ripe August 9 to 
September 6, about same time as Golden Beauty. Seems to be 
identical with Wayland." — J. S. Kerr, Texas. 

Named for AJr. Dan Irby of Texas, who found it growing 
on the grounds of an old Indian settlement in his vicinity. I 
have not seen the fruit, but the foliage identifies it with the 
Wayland group. 

Kanawha. — Fruit ellipsoid, medium size, bright cherry 
red, with a suture line and many white dots and a faint white 
bloom ; skin firm ; flesh firm and meaty ; stone medium size, 
cling; flavor sprightly; quality excellent. Introduced by P. J. 
Berckmans, who received it from J. S. Downer of Kentucky, 
in 1871. 

Langsdon. — Described by Bailey in 1892 and said to be 
much like Miner. This evidently was a typographical error, 
as the Langsdon is an exact duplicate of the Moreman. 

Leptune. — Fruit spherical or nearly so, medium size, color 
deep cherry red with an indistinct suture line and distinct 
yellowish dots, skin thick and strong; flesh meaty, yellow; 
stone medium size, cling; quality good. 

"Said to have been introduced by J. D. Morrow & Sons, 
Arkansas." — Bailey. 

MissoulRi Apricot (Honey drop). —Fruit nearly spherical, 
small to medium, bright golden yellow with a plain suture line, 
many whitish dots, which seem to show through the skin, and 
a whitish bloom, skin rather thick and tough, flesh firm, meaty, 
yellow ; stone small to medium, cling ; quality fair to good. 
Bailey says "perhaps the best yellow plum," but this does not 
accord with our observations. J. W. Kerr says "the fruit is 
much inferior to Golden Beauty, with which it ripens." 

This variety really ought to pass under the name of Honey- 
drop, which is the older, and which was changed to Missouri 
Apricot quite without warrant. It is so much better known, 
however, under the latter name that convenience may be 
thought to outweigh priority. The latter name is therefore 
retained. 

MoREMAN. — Fruit spherical, small, bright cherry red, with 
a faint suture line and many distinct small yellow dots; skin 
strong; flesh firm yellow; stone usually small, rounded, 
cling; quality good. Season rather late, last of August. 
Origin Kentucky. Perhaps the hardiest of this group, and cer- 
tainly the best known northward, but hardly typical of the 
group and not the best in fruit. 

NiMON. — Fruit oval; size medium; cavity very shallow; 
suture faint line; color bright red; dots many, large, white; 



1 82 Plums and Plum Culture 

1)loom white : skin tough ; flesh yellow ; stone small, oval, 
flattened, cling; flavor, sweetish; quality good; season 
medium. 

Introduced by T. V. Munson of Texas in 1897. 

Peach LEAF. — Fruit spherical, medium size ; cavity slight, 
deep wine red with a faint suture line and many small dots ; 
skin thick and strong ; flesh very firm, yellow ; stone medium 
size, roughened ; quality good. This is very much like More- 
man, though the foliage seems to be a trifle more peach-like 
and nearer the type of this group. The variety was received 
from B. A. Mathews of Iowa, who says he has been growing 
it for twenty-five years, but does not know its origin. It is 
probably a distinct variety of this group, hitherto undescribed. 

Pontotoc. — IMentioned as not yet fully tested, and referred 
to this group by Mr. Ramsey. 

Reed. — Fruit spherical or nearly so, small to medium, dark 
cherry red with a faint suture stripe and many distinct yel- 
lowish dots ; skin thick and firm ; flesh meaty, yellow ; stone 
medium size, turgid, half- free ; quality fair. Ripens with 
Moreman. Grown by Mr. O. H. Reed of Hightstown, New 
Jersey, from seed of native plums from Illinois. Propagated 
and introduced by I\lr. Charles Black of Hightstown, who 
writes me that it lias been abandoned since the introduction of 
Wildgoose and the Japanese varieties. 

The tree of Reed is one of the finest, with extraordinarily 
large, brilliant green foliage. 

Sucker State. — Fruit round or roundish ; size medium ; 
cavity shallow; stem slender; suture a line; color dark wine 
red; dots many, small, yellow; bloom none or thin; skin 
thin ; flesh yellow ; stone medium size, short oval, not flat- 
tened, cling; quality good; season late. 

Origin, Illinois ( ?). 

Wayland. — Fruit spherical, medium to large, bright cherry 
red with a distinct suture line and many distinct white dots 
and a thin white bloom, skin thick and firm, flesh firm, meaty, 
yellow ; stone medium cling ; quality good. Introduced by 
Downer & Brother, Fairview, Kentucky. First propagated 
in 1876. Came up in a plum thicket in the garden of Professor 
H. B. Wayland, Cadiz. Kentucky. Described and illustrated 
in Report United States Department Agriculture. 1888. p. 573. 
A valuable variety. 

"The red coloring always has a pinkish hue here. Tree a 
vigorous upright grower while young, assuming a weeping 
habit when older; foliage large, bright and healthy." — J. W. 
Kerr, Maryland. 

WoRLDBEATER. — Fruit sphcrical or nearly so, medium to 
large, bright wine red with numerous large white or yellowish 



The Wayland-like Plums Described 183 

dots and a light white bloom, skin thin but strong, flesh rather 
soft and juicy; stone small, cling: quality good. Hardy in 
Vermont. The seed from which Worldbeater grew was 
brought from near Nashville, Tennessee, in 1838, by J. H. 
Tinsley. It was planted in Lincoln county, Kentucky, and the 
stock transferred in 1849 to Clay county, Missouri. The 
variety was introduced by Stark Brothers in the fall of 1890. 
Very similar to Wayland, and perhaps identical with that 
variety. 

Yellow Oregon. — Specimens received from Mr. B. A. 
Mathews, Iowa. So far as can now be learned the variety is 
hitherto undescribed. Fruit nearly spherical, small, bright 
golden yellow with a faint suture line and many whitish dots, 
skin thick and strong, flesh yellow and not very firm, stone 
rather large, smooth, cling; quality medium. Inferior in size 
and quality to Captain or Cumberland. 




XXIV 



The Wildgoosc Varieties Named and .Described 




HOPTANK.— Fruit oval; size above 
medium ; cavity shallow ; stem long, 
strong, and holds fast; suture a faint 
line; color bright red; dots many, 
fine, yellow ; bloom thin, bluish ; skin 
medium thick ; flesh yellow ; stone 
medium size, oval, flattened, cling; 
quality fair to good; season medium 
early. 

Originated and introduced by J. 
W. Kerr, Maryland. 

Clara. — A variety mentioned in 
Texas Experiment station Bulletin 32, p. 482. I know noth- 
ing about it. 

Clark. — Fruit round; size small to rnedium; apex trun- 
cate ; color red ; stone cling ; season of Wildgoose. 

Said to have been found wild in Anne Arundel county, 
Maryland. This statement should not be relied on, however. 
Not a valuable variety. 

Clifford (Mrs. Clifford).— Fruit pyriform ; size large; 
cavity almost obsolete ; suture a line ; color red ; bloom con- 
spicuous ; skin thin; flesh yellow; stone semi-cling; quality 
good : a little later than Wildgoose. 

Originated in northern Texas, and said to be a seedling of 

184 



The Wildgoose Varieties Described 185 

Wildgoose. Introduced by E. C. Clifford. Regarded as valu- 
able in its native section. 

Davis. — 'Truit large, bright red and good quality. Tree 
a low-spreading, but quite vigorous grower ; fairly productive. 
Grown from seed of Wildgoose in 1885." — From advertise- 
ment of the originator, H. A. Terry, Iowa. 

Downing (Charles Downing). — Fruit round oval; size 
large ; cavity medium depth, rounded ; stem slender ; suture 
a faint line ; apex very slightly depressed ; color bright solid 
red; dots many, minute; bloom thin, bluish; skin thin; flesh 
yellow; stone medium size, oval, flattened, cling; quality good 
to fine ; season a week after Wildgoose. 

Grown by H. A. Terry of Iowa, from seed of Wildgoose, 
fruiting first in 1885. One of the best varieties of this group. 




HOLLISTER 

DuNLAP (No. 2). — Fruit oval; size large; cavity shal- 
low; suture a line; color bright red; dots many, minute; 
bloom thin, bluish ; skin thin ; flesh yellow ; stone medium 
size, oval, much flattened, cling; flavor sweet; quality good to 
best; season medium. 

A good profitable commercial variety. Originated by J. P. 
Dunlap of Nebraska. 

Fanning. — Fruit round oval ; size medium ; cavity shal- 
low; suture a line; color bright red; dots many, white; 
bloom white ; skin medium thick, firm ; flesh medium firm, 
yellow; stone medium size, oval, very slightly flattened, cling; 
quality fair to good ; season medium. 

Came up in the yard of Mr. Fanning, Rockdale, Texas. 
Probably a seedling of Wildgoose. Introduced by J. M. Shell 
of Georgetown, Texas, and largely distributed by C. L. Shell 
of the same place. 



1 86 Plums and Plum Culture 

Freeman. — Fruit round oblong; size large; color red; 
stone cling; season medium early. 

One of H. A. Terry's Wildgoose seedlings, Iowa, 1885. 

HoLLiSTER. — Fruit oblong spherical ; size above medium ; 
cavity shallow ; stem slender ; suture a faint line ; color 
bright red ; dots few ; skin thin ; flesh soft, yellow ; stone 
medium size, oval, slightly flattened, cling; flavor sweet; 
quality good ; season medium to late. 

Origin unknown. 

Indian Chief. — Fruit oval ; size medium ; cavity shal- 
low ; stem short, slender ; suture a faint line ; color bright 
red; dots many, white; bloom blue; skin thick; flesh yellow; 
stone medium to large, long oval, flattened, cling; flavor flat; 
quality poor ; season medium early. "Fruit drops as soon as 
colored." — Kerr. 

Origin in dispute. 

James Vick. — "From seed of Wildgoose. First crop in 
1885. Tree a spreading, straggling, but vigorous grower, with 
fruit of large size ; round, bright red, good quality and quite 
productive." — From advertisement of the originator, H. A. 
Terry, Iowa. 

Jewell. — Fruit round; size medium or larger; cavity 
shallow ; suture a line ; color yellow overspread with red ; 
flesh yellow; stone cling; season medium to late. "Tree 
vigorous, open or spreading, with handsome bright foliage, 
narrower than Wildgoose leaves." — Kerr. 

Another of Mr. Terry's Wildgoose seedlings, Iowa, 1885. 

Kelly.— This variety I find mentioned in the catalog of 
the J. Van Lindley Nursery company of Pomona, North Caro- 
lina. It is there said to have been introduced by R. Bates, 
Jackson, South Carolina. It is described as being of medium 
size, yellow, quality good, a prolific bearer, ripening in May, 
"thus being the earliest plum ever introduced." 

Kroh (Poole, Poole's Pride). — Fruit oval; size small to 
medium: cavity shallow; stem slender; suture a line; color 
bluish ; skin thin ; flesh yellow ; stone medium size, oval, some- 
what flattened, cling; quality good; tree productive. 

Introduced by Stark Brothers in 1893 under the name of 
Poole's Pride. The previous history of the variety is uncer- 
tain, except that it had long been known as Kroh. 

Lancaster. — A new variety, grown by Charles B. Camp, 
of Cheney, Nebraska, from Wildgoose seed thought to have 
been pollinated by Miner. 

Macedonia (Transparent). — Fruit oval to nearly spheri- 
cal ; size medium or small ; cavity shallow ; stem short ; 



The Wildgoose Varieties Described 187 

suture a line ; color bright red ; dots many, white ; bloom 
thin, bluish; skin thin; flesh yellow; stone medium size, 
slightly flattened, cling ; quality fair to good ; season medium. 

Milton. — Fruit oval ; size medium to large; cavity shal- 
low, abrupt ; stem slender ; suture obsolete ; apex sometimes 
slightly pointed; color bright red; dots many, white, con- 
spicuous ; bloom whitish ; skin thin ; flesh yellow, rather soft ; 
stone large, oval, slightly flattened, cling; flavor sweet; 
quality good ; season early. 

Seedling of Wildgoose, grown by H. A. Terry, Crescent, 
Iowa, about 1885. One of the best of the group. A successful 
commercial variety. 

Mississippi (Mississippi Red). — Fruit oval; size large; 
cavity very shallow; suture obsolete; color fine, clear red; 
dots many, yellowish; bloom white; skin thin but tough; 




MILTON 

flesh soft, yellow; stone medium size, slightly flattened, oval, 
cling ; quality good ; season medium. 

Introduced by J. M. Shell of Georgetown, Texas, some 
twenty-five -years ago, but dropped from cultivation. It is, 
however, one of the best fruits of the Wildgoose class which 
I have seen, and ought to be brought back into cultivation. 

Mrs. Cleveland. — "Fruit large, light mottled red, oblong 
and slightly pointed at both ends, excellent quality, with a 
small pit. Tree a strong grower, of spreading habit and quite 
productive." — From ca-talog of introducer, H. A. Terry, Iowa. 
Seedling of Wildgoose, 1883. 

Ohio (Ohio Prolific). — Fruit round; size medium; cav- 
ity shallow; stem slender; color bright red; skin thin; flesh 
yellow ; stone cling ; season medium. 

Not valuable. 



1 88 Plums and Plum Culture 

Osage. — Fruit oval ; size small to medium ; cavity shal- 
low; stem slender; suture a line; color bright red; dots 
many, whitish; bloom thin; skin thin but strong; flesh 
yellow; stone medium size, oval, flattened, cling; quality fair 
to good ; season medium. 

Roulette. — Fruit oval ; size medium and larger ; cavity 
shallow; stem slender; suture a line; color bright red; dots 
many, large and small, yellow ; bloom thin, bluish ; skin thick 




MISSISSIPPI 

and strong ; flesh yellow ; stone medium size, oval, flattened 
cling ; quality good ; season medium. 
Origin Texas ( ?). 

Schley (Schley's Large Red). — Fruit compressed, oval 
size medium ; cavity medium depth ; stem medium length 
suture slight; color bright, light red; dots many, colorless 
bloom, whitish; skin tough; flesh yellow; stone cling; quality 
fair ; season medium. 

"Said to have been introduced from Georgia by W. K. 
Nelson." 

Smiley. — Fruit irregularly oval ; size medium ; cavity 
shallow, rounded; suture a line; color bright red; dots 



The Wildgoose Varieties Described 189 

many, small ; bloom bluish ; skin tough ; flesh soft, yellow ; 
stone medium size, oval, somewhat flattened, cling; quality 
good ; season about with Wildgoose. 

A fairly good variety ; valued by J. W. Kerr for its effi- 
ciency in pollinating Wildgoose. Origin Alabama (?). 

Sophie. — Fruit pyriform ; size medium to large ; cavity 
shallow, abrupt ; stem long, slender ; suture faint, color 
bright red; dots many, small, distinct; bloom whitish; skin 
firm ; flesh yellow ; stone medium ^ize, oval, flattened, cling ; 
quality good ; season medium. 




SMILEY 

Originated by J. W. Kerr, Maryland, and introduced by 
him in 1894. Has peculiar small pinkish and very pretty 
blossoms. 

SuwANEE. — A southern variety said to be "quite similar to 
Wildgoose. but larger and generally a better bearer." Perhaps 
best regarded as a synonym of Wildgoose. 

Texas Belle (Paris Belle). — Fruit nearly spherical; size 
medium to^ large: color red; stone short, hardly flattened, 
cling; quality fair to good: season medium. 

Introduced by J. T. Whitaker, Tyler, Texas. Originated 
with Stephen H. Turner, Texas. 

Thousand-and-One. — Fruit round ; size small ; cavity 



190 



Plums and Plum Culture 



medium ; suture a faint line ; color bright red ; dots many, 
minute, distinct; bloom bluish; skin thin; flesh soft, yellow; 
stone small, oval, thickened, cling; quality poor; season 
medium. 

Of no value. Origin unknown. 

Tucker. — Fruit pyriform; size medium to large; color 
light purplish-red, over greenish-yellow ; dots many, small, 
gray; skin thick, tender; flesh yellow, tender; stone large, 
cling; flavor mild; quality *good ; season medium to late. 

Originated with Ezra W. Tucker, Williamsfield, Illinois. 
Fruited first in 1894. 

Van Houten. — An unidentified seedling grown by H. A. 
Terry, Iowa, probably belongs here ; 1895. 

Whitaker. — Fruit oval ; size medium to large ; cavity 
shallow ; stem medium ; suture a line ; color bright red ; dots 
many, white, easily seen ; bloom thin, bluish ; skin thin but 
firm ; flesh yellow, moderately firm ; stone small, long oval, 
pointed, flat, cling, exactly like Wildgoose; flavor sweet and 
good ; quality good ; season of Wildgoose. 

Seedling of Wildgoose; originated under cultivation with 
J. T. Whitaker, Texas. Resembles the parent closely, but tree 
is of more open growth and blossoms later. A first-rate 
variety. 

Wildgoose. — Fruit oval ; size medium to large ; cavity 
shallow ; stem medium long ; suture a line ; color bright clear 
red; dots many, white, conspicuous; bloom thin, light bluish; 
skin thin, but rather tough ; stone small to medium, oval, 
pointed, cling ; flavor sweet ; quality fair to good ; season 
early. 

Tree a healthy, vigorous spreading grower, blooming 
medium early, in "large snowy banks, which present a fine 
appearance. This variety, more noticeably than most others, 
requires cross-pollination. The quality is not extra, but on 
account of its earliness, productiveness, fine color and good 
shipping quality, this has proved a very profitable plum. There 
are many other varieties just as good or better, though less 
well known and not so generally planted. This is the first 
native plum to be generally propagated and planted. 

Bailey gives the following history of the variety: "The 
Wildgoose was first brought to notice by James Harvey of 
Columbia, Tennessee. Some time before 1850 a man shot a 
wild goose near Columbia, and on the spot where the carcass 
was thrown this plum came up the following spring. It was 
introduced about 1850 by the late J. S. Downer of Fairview, 
Kentucky." 

Wildgoose, Yellov;^. — Yellow Wildgoose is said to have 
been introduced by R. Bates, Jackson, South Carolina, who 



The Wildgoose Varieties Described 191 

describes it as follows : "Large, equal in size to Wildgoose and 
ripenmg at the same time. The original tree rarely misses a 
crop._ The tree is known to be at least sixty-three years old 
and is in perfect health and bearing condition. The quality 
is better than Wildgoose." 

WoosTER.— Mentioned by Goff, Wisconsin Experiment 
station Bulletin 63. 

WooTEN.— Fruit oblong; size large; cavity shallow; 
suture a line; color bright red; dots white; bloom white; 
skin thin ; flesh yellow, rather firm ; stone cling ; quality 
good; season a few days after Wildgoose. 

Tree has dark-colored bark, is a fine, upright grower with 
good foliage. A good variety in all respects. Found wild in 
the valley of the Colorado river, Burnet county, Texas, in 1876, 
by F. T. Ramsey and introduced by A. M. Ramsey & Son. 




XXV 



The Chicasazv Plums Named and Described 






FRICAN. — Fruit medium large, nearly 
spherical, dull dark red, with large 
white dots ; skin thin but tough ; 
riesh soft, yellow, watery, good qual- 
ity ; stone cling. Tree small, spread- 
ing, rough, somewhat thorny, 
branches rather short and stiff, bark 
dark-colored ; leaves large for a 
Chicasaw, broad and blunt-pointed. 
One of the better Chicasaws. 
Originated with G. Onderdonk, 
Texas, and introduced by him in 1870. 

Arkansas (Arkansas Lombard). — Fruit round oval; size 
medium ; cavity very shallow ; stem long, slender ; color bright 
red; dots many, minute, white: bloom white; skin thin; flesh 
soft, yellow; stone medium size, oval, cling; quality good; 
season medium early. 

This variety is a favorite in many places southward, where 
it is said to be hardy and productive. Said to have originated 
in Arkansas and to have been introduced by J. D. Morrow & 
Sons. The name Lombard has no apparent relevancy. 

Beaty (Beaty's Choice, El Paso). — Fruit spherical to 
oblong ; size medium ; cavity shallow ; color light crimson 
red ; dots many, yellow ; bloom thin, bluish ; skin medium 

192 



The Chicasaw Plums Described 193 

thick, tough; flesh j^ellow ; stone small, oval, turgid, cling; 
quality good. (This description made from fruit from the 
orchard of J. W. Kerr, Maryland, does not agree with Bailey's 
description.) 

Originated in Luling, Caldwell county, Texas, with Lea 
Beaty and introduced by him in 1877. As I have seen Beaty 
it is somewhat different from El Paso, but the two names 
were originally applied to the same variety. 

Caddo Chief. — Fruit ovoid, slightly pointed, small, bright 
cherry red, with white or bluish bloom, dots hardly visible, 




AFRICAN 

and a faint suture line ; skin tough ; flesh red ; pit compara- 
tively large, round, cling ; quality poor ; very early. Tree 
thick and spreading, productive. 

Found wild in Louisiana. Introduced by G. W. Stoner. 
This is a very early plum, ripening in May in the southern 
states, and has been highly recommended by some, but the 
general opinion seems to agree with my own observation, that 
the variety is strictly third-rate. 

Clark. — Fruit irregular spherical ; size small ; cavity 
medium deep, broad ; stem short ; apex slightly indented ; 
color bright red ; dots many, minute ; bloom bluish ; skin 
tough ; flesh yellow ; stone medium to large, oval, very slightly 

13 



194 



Plums and Plum Culture 



flattened, cling ; quality good ; season medium early. A good 
pollen bearer for other varieties. 

Cluck. — Fruit oval ; size medium to large ; cavity shal- 
low ; color bright red ; dots many, small ; bloom white ; skin 
tough ; flesh yellow, soft ; stone medium size, oval, but little 
flattened, cling ; quality fair to good ; season late. ^ 

This new and promising variety originated with George 
Cluck, near Austin, Texas, and was introduced in 1896 by F. T. 
Ramsey. It is very late in blossoming (for a Chicasaw) 




ARKANSAS 



coming in with many of the Wildgoose group, so that it may 
perhaps prove useful for the pollination of such varieties as 
Miner, Sophie, Charles Downing. Dunlop, James Vick and 
Forest Rose. 

CoLETTA. — Fruit medium to large, round or oblong; light 
red; skin tough; flesh yellow; stone cling; flavor good when 
fully ripe. Tree rather upright and thorny, hardy, early. 

Originated with G. Onderdonk in southern Texas, who 
introduced it in 1874. There are several better. 

Drouth King. — Fruit oval ; size small ; cavity very shal- 
low; stem slender: color bright red; dots many, conspicuous; 



The Chicasaw Plums Described 195 

bloom bluish ; skin thin ; flesh yellow ; stone medium size, 
oval, flattened, cling; quality good; season medium to late. 
Origin unknown. 

Early Honey. — "An early variety, evidently a Chicasaw, 
which originated in Grayson county, Texas." — Bailey, Cornell 
Bulletin 38. This variety seems to be lost from the nursery 

lists. 

Early Red (not the Russian variety of this name). — Fruit 
round or slightly oblate ; size small ; cavity deep, broad ; stem 
slender; suture obsolete; color clear red with lighter splashes; 
dots few, white ; bloom white ; skin thin ; flesh soft, yellow ; 
stone medium to small, rounded, cling; flavor sprightly; 
quality good; sea.son early. 

Originated in southern Texas with G. Onderdonk and 
introduced by him in 1872. Second or third-rate. 

Emerson (Emerson's Early). — Fruit round or slightly 
oval; size small; cavity shallow; stem slender; suture not 
visible ; color bright red, sometimes faintly splashed ; dots 
many, white ; bloom white ; skin tough ; flesh yellow, soft ; 
stone medium size, turgid, cling; flavor sweet; quality fair 
to good. 

Found wild in northern Texas and introduced by Mr. 
Bruce. Said to be a good variety in its native state. 

Emerson Yellow. — A Texas seedling of Emerson and 
thought to be an improvement on that variety. New and 
untested. 

Heep. — "Some old variety growing in Mr. Heep's orchard 
I cannot name. Tree very vigorous, resembling Piram. Bears 
heavy crops annually, of good-sized, red plums.' — F. T. Ram- 
sey, Austin, Texas, catalog of 1897-98. 

Hoffman. — "Medium to rather large, round, purple-red ; 
leaves medium, oblong, lanceolate ; midseason to late. A wild 
variety from southwestern Missouri." — Bailey, Cornell Bulle- 
tin 38. 

I find no trace of this variety except the foregoing descrip- 
tion, written by Bailey in 1892. 

Hughes. — Fruit round or a trifle oblate, medium size, 
with a shallow rounded cavity and a long, slender stem ; suture 
marked by a red line; color bright pinkish-red, striped with 
yellow ; dots large, white ; bloom white ; skin thin ; flesh 
yellow, stringy, watery ; stone medium size, turgid, cling ; 
flavor sprightly, subacid ; quality fair ; season late ; tree small, 
productive. 

Said to have come from northern Mississippi. One of the 
better Chicasaws. 



196 



Plums and Plum Culture 



Jennie Lucas. — Fruit irregular, spherical ; size medium; 
cavity shallow; suture a line; color light yellow; dots many, 
large, white ; bloom white : skin thin ; flesh yellow and soft ; 
stone large, round, flattened, cling; flavor sweetish; quality 
fair ; season medium early. 

Another of Mr. Onderdonk's Chicasaw seedlings, intro- 
duced in 1875. Texas. 

Lone Star. — Fruit oval, pointed ; size medium ; cavity 
broad, shallow ; stem slender ; suture obsolete ; color clear 
red ; dots many, white ; bloom white ; skin thin but strong ; 
flesh soft, yellow ; stone medium size, oval, slightly flattened. 




HUGHES 



cling; flavor rich and sweet; quality good; season medium 
early. 

Originated with E. W. Kirkpatrick, Texas. Said by J. W. 
Kerr to be a profitable variety. 

LupOR. — "Above medium size, oblong, bright red ; skin 
very thin ; flavor rather acid unless fully ripe ; tree fairly vig- 
orous and productive." — R. H. Price, Texas Bulletin 32. 

Mason. — Fruit above the medium size, round or somewhat 
oblong, bright red, quite firm, fine flavor when ripe, cling. 
Early or very early. 

Orginated with Messrs. Mason, near Leander, Williamson 
county, Texas, and introduced about 1896 by F. T. Ramsey ( ?). 
Thought to be a good variety. 



The Chicasaw Plums Described 197 

McCartney. — Fruit medium to large size, round or ovoid, 
bright golden yellow, with white dots and a visible suture, 
skin moderately thick, flesh sweet and melting, quality extra; 
stone rather large, oblong, cling. Early. 

This plum was sent me in May, 1898, by Mr. F. T. Ramsey 
of Austin, Texas. I was very favorably impressed with it, ex- 
cept for its yellow color, which would prove a disadvantage in 
most markets. 

McPherson. — "Fruit rather small, round, golden yellow ; 
skin brittle; flesh yellow; quality only fair; cling; tree low and 
bushy, thorny, fairly productive, hardy." — Price, Texas Bulle- 
tin 32. 

Munson. — Fruit long oval ; size medium to large ; cavity 
shallow, abrupt ; stem slender ; suture nearly obsolete ; color 
bright clear red, with lighter splashes about the stem; dots 
many, white ; bloom white ; skin thin ; flesh yellow, soft ; 
stone medium size, oval, slightly flattened, cling; quality fair 
to good ; season medium early. 

Originated with G. Onderdonk, Texas. Introduced in 1888. 
One of the very best of the Chicasaws. Hardy, large, pro- 
ductive and excellent. On account of its comparatively large 
size, its very attractive color, its early ripening and its shapely 
tree, this is perhaps the best of the Chicasaw plums. It seems 
not to have gained very general recognition, however. It 
blossoms at a season convenient for the pollination of most 
Chicasaw and Wildgoose varieties. Mr. J. W. Kerr regards 
it as a promising variety for breeding purposes. 

Newman. — Fruit medium or large, nearly spherical, some- 
times a trifle ellipsoid, not flattened or compressed, tardily 
ripening to a bright wine red, with some markings of yellow 
and several white dots, usually with a well-striped suture line; 
skin thin but tough ; flesh firm, meaty, yellow, of medium qual- 
ity or better; stone rather small, cling. Season medium to 
late. Tree thrifty, spreading. 

"Introduced from Kentucky by W. F. Heikes." One of the 
best known of the Chicasaws. This and Munson are valuable 
market sorts. This is an excellent pollenator for Wildgoose. 

Ogeeche. — Fruit below medium size, round, red, cling; 
season early to very early. 

Very much like Caddo Chief, Early Red, etc. Found wild 
in Georgia. Introduced by G. Bourquine. 

PiRAM. — Fruit medium to large, oblong, bright yellow, 
with white dots and bloom and an indistinct suture line ; skin 
thin ; flesh yellow, watery ; quality medium or good ; cling ; sea- 
son medium. Tree rather small ; bark dark-colored ; branches 



The Chicasaw Plums Described 199 

thorny; leaves small and narrow. Bears young and abun- 
dantly. 

Originated and introduced by G. Onderdonk, Texas, 

Pottawattamie. — Fruit medium to large, ellipsoid, with 
a long, slender stem ; bright red, with small yellow dots and 
white bloom and a faint suture line ; skin thin, rather inclined 
to crack; flesh iirm, yellow, fine quality, cling. Midseason 
or a little later. 

Originated in Tennessee. Introduced by J. B. Rice_ of 
Council Bluffs, Iowa, in 1875. One of the best known Chica- 




POTTAWATTAMIE 

saws, and deservedly popular. Probably the hardiest of the 
group. "It will not prove hardy north of the forty-second 
parallel except in favored spots." — Budd, Iowa Bulletin 19. 
Professor Goff, in preparing Wisconsin Bulletin 63, received 
twenty reports of Pottawattamie. These generally called the 
variety productive and a good seller, but inferior in quality. 
The name has been diversely spelled, but the spelling here 
given is correct. 

Robinson. — Fruit medium size, round, red, cling. Season 
medium or late. 

This is. unfortunately, one of the best known plums of 
its class. It is distinctly inferior to such sorts as Newman, 



100 Plums and Plum Culture 

Munson, Lonestar, and several others. It is generally reported 
as rotting badly. Bailey (Cornell Bulletin 38) quotes the 
following account of its history from Albertson & Hobbs, 
Bridgeport, Indiana, who introduced the variety in 1884: 
"This is a seedling grown by a Mr. Pickett of Putnam county, 
Indiana, from a seedling brought with him from North Caro- 
lina, nearly fifty years ago, and has, almost every season (since 
large enough), borne abundant crops, but was neglected and 
never brought to the notice of the public till 1879, when Dr. 
J. H. Robinson (of the same township) read a paper before 
the Indiana Horticultural society on Chicasaw plums, and 
gave a very flattering description of this plum, which he had 
been watching since 1872, and of which he had two good crops 
on his own trees ; which bore two bushels to the tree five years 
after planting, and has borne good crops annually, except 
once, when killed by late frosts. It was named by the Putnam 
County Horticultural society in honor of Dr. Robinson. 

Sanders (Honey Grove). — Described in i8q8 catalog of 
J. S. Kerr, Texas, as small, purplish-red, medium quality, 
abundant bearer, "the earliest plum." I know nothing more 
about it. 

Yellow Transparent (Transparent, erroneously). — 
Fruit above medium size, oblong, bright yellow ; skin thin 
and tough ; flesh rather soft and watery ; flavor sweet and 
good ; stone cling ; season early or medium. 

Grown from seeds gathered in the wild by J. L. Freeman, 
northern Texas. A fairly good yellow variety. 




XXVI 

The Hybrid Plums Named and Described 




LABAMA (Normand No. 5).— Prob- 
ably a hybrid of Japanese stock with 
Wildgoose or Chicasaw. 

Named by Bailey and described as 
follows: "Fruit of medium size, 
round conical or heart-shaped; color 
light bright red when ripe, with 
perhaps a faint pinkish cheek, cov- 
ered with a very thin bloom; flesh 
soft, sweet and juicy, cling; ripe the 
14th of September. The latest of 
the plums reported in this bulletin. 
The fruits drop before fully ripe, but developed an excellent 
quality after they have fallen. On account of its lateness, it is 
possible that this plum may have commercial value. The habit 
of the tree is like that of the Georgia." 

Alhambra. — Probably Satsuma x Agen (Petite d'Agen, 
or French Prune) ; that is, Pruniis triHora x P. domestica. 

Fruit egg-shaped, large or very large; cavity medium 
shallow, abruptly rounded ; suture shallow ; apex pointed ; color 
dark dull red ; dots many, small, yellowish ; bloom thin pur- 
plish; skin firm; flesh yellow inside, reddish outside; stone 
medium to large, flat, pointed, nearly smooth, cling; flavor 
brisk subacid ; quality first-rate. 

201 



202 Plums and Plum Culture 



Originated by Luther Biirbank and named by him in 1898. 
See Vermont Experiment station Bulletin 67:5. 

Allfruit (Prunus simoni x P. triffora). — Fruit oblate, 
medium large ; cavity deep, rounded ; stem short ; suture rather 
shallow ; color pale red with many large and small yellowish 
dots and a thin white bloom ; skin medium thick ; flesh medium 
firm, bright yellow ; stone medium to large, slightly flattened, 
semi-cling; flavor sweet and rich; fragrant; quality good to 
best. Leaf large, oval, pointed, rather finely double crenulate 
and minutely glandular, rather thick, glistens as if varnished, 
petiole short, glandular. 

Originated by Luther Burbank and named in 1898. See 
Vermont Experiment station Bulletin 67 '.5. 




AMERICA 



America.— Botan x Robinson, Robinson seed, i. e., P. 
tnflora x P. angustifolia. Fruit nearly spherical, or a trifle 
elongated, medium to large, specimens measuring 42 mm. in 
both longitudinal and transverse diameters; cavity medium 
depth, abrupt; stem short; suture faint; colcr bright golden 
yellow with pink blush; dots many, white, small, indistinct; 
bloom thin white; skin thin, somewhat astringent; flesh yel- 
low, medium firm; stone large, oval, slightly flattened, cling; 
flavor not very striking; quality medium to good. 

This plum is pretty, but not of large size nor high quality. 
It partakes very strongly of the Chicasaw parentage. It 
seems to bear remarkably early. Originated by Luther Bur- 
bank and introduced in 1808. 



The Hybrid Plums Described 203 

Ames. — P. americana x P. triflora. Fruit spherical; size 
fair; cavity shallow, flaring; stem short, stout; suture very 
shallow or line ; apex very slightly depressed ; color bright dark 
red ; dots many, distinct, yellow ; bloom thin, blue ; skin thick 
and tough, not astringent ; flesh yellow, somewhat Miner-like ; 
stone medium large, round, obtusely pointed, flattened, cling ; 
flavor sweet ; quality good. Leaves large, oval, taper-pomted, 
sharply and somewhat deeply double serrate, dull glabrous 
above, finely pubescent on the veins underneath, with two 
conspicuous glands on the strong short petiole. 

This variety partakes much more strongly of Americana 
than of the Japanese characters. Still it shows a pronounced 




APPLE 



strain of Japanese admixture, especially in shape, color and 
flavor of fruit. It is very interesting. Originated by J. L. 
Budd, and will probably be propagated and distributed by the 
Iowa Agricultural college at Ames. 

Apple. — Japan x Chicasaw, perhaps. Fruit spherical to 
oblate, large ; cavity medium deep, gently rounded ; stem short ; 
suture faint ; color deep reddish-purple. Foliage large and 
thrifty, leaves four and one-half inches long, rather narrow 
oval, tapering below and somewhat abruptly pointed above, 
margin finely glandular crenulate. 

Originated by Luther Burbank, who says that it is a 
hybrid seedling of the second generation. "No doubt Sat- 



204 Plums and Plum Culture 

suma and probably Robinson are in its line of ancestry." This 
would mean P. triHora x P. angustifolia. It partakes most 
strongly of the character of Satsuma, especially in the hard, 
red flesh, though it is very different in other characters. Still 
there is no obvious showing of the characters of any other 
species other than Primus triHora, and this may be merely a 
pure seedling of Satsuma, or of Satsuma crossed with some 
other Japanese variety. 

The fruit is large and attractive and looks so much like 
a medium-sized apple as to be readily mistaken for one when 
the apex of the fruit is not visible. The quality is about like 
that of Satsuma. 

Bartlett. — Delaware crossed with Simon ; that is Prunus 
triflora x P. simoni. Fruit ovoid ; size medium ; cavity deep, 
rounded ; stem medium length, rather slender ; suture evident ; 
apex pointed; color dark red; dots many, yellowish; bloom 
white ; skin thin ; flesh soft and yellow ; stone large. The flavor 
is said to be very fine, closely resembling that of a Bartlett 
pear, whence the name. Mr. Burbank says "the tree grows 
perfectly upright, like a Lombardy poplar, with very glossy 
leaves, very productive." 

Bestovall. — Described as a hybrid of Miner pollinated 
with Abundance, which would be P. Jiortulana x P. triflora. 
I have seen only the foliage, which is much like Miner, show- 
ing no Japanese characters. 

Leaves large, coarse, rough, with a tendency toward a 
faint pubescence on the veins underneath, broadly oval, blunt 
pointed, base strongly rounded, margins coarsely double 
serrate, glandless, petioles strong, with one or two small 
glands. Mr. Munson describes the fruit as "very late, fair 
size, firm, meaty, fine, sure and prolific." 

Originated and named by T. V. Munson, Denison, Texas. 
See Vermont Experiment station Bulletin 67 7, 1898. 

Blackman. — Thought to be a peach-plum hybrid. The 
evidence of hybridity lies in the sterility of this variety and 
in its somewhat immediate characters. This is further 
strengthened by comparison with Mule of J. W. Kerr, 
which see. 

The variety is of no interest except as a curiosity. A full 
account of it may be found in United States Department Agri- 
culture Report, 1886, p. 261 ; also in same reports, 1887, p. 636; 
also in Cornell Experiment station Bulletin 38, 1892, p. 40. 

Breck. — P. triHora x P. hortulana, or possibly with P. 
angu tifolio. Fruit oblong or slightly conical; size medium; 
cavity medium deep, rounded ; stem very short ; suture obso- 
lete ; color fine bright red, indistinctly striped ; dots many, 
small, white, inconspicuous ; bloom light bluish ; skin firm ; flesh 



The Hybrid Plums Described 205 

medium firm, red, stringy ; stone medium large, oval, flattened, 
cling; flavor sprightly; quality good; has much of the Wild- 
goose character, but is firmer and better colored. The leaves 
are medium large, rather broadly oval, blunt-pointed, abruptly 
tapering below, margins finely crenulate with many conspicu- 
ous small glands, petiole short, usually glandless. Specimens 
from F. T. Ramsey, Austin, Texas. First offered for sale in 
Mr. Ramsey's catalog for fall of 1899. 

Caper. — P. triUora x P. cerasifera, perhaps. Fruit irreg- 
ular ovoid, medium size ; cavity shallow, abrupt ; suture 
shallow ; color fine dark red ; dots many, minute ; bloom light 
colored ; skin thick, tough ; flesh medium firm, red ; stone 
large, pointed, only slightly flattened, cling ; flavor sprightly 
subacid; quality fair; leaf large, oval, rounded below, pointed 




BRECK 

above, rather thin, smooth, fine double-crenulate, petiole, 
strong and glandular. 

Specimens received from the originator, J. S. Breece, 
North Carolina, in 1899. See Vermont Experiment station 
Report 12:221. Parentage unknown, except that the fruit and 
foliage suggest Priimis triHora and P. cerasifera. 

Cel. — Said by Mr. Burbank to be Myrobalan x Wickson ; 
"a tri-specific hybrid." The fruit strongly suggests Prunus 
americana parentage, which would make the pedigree of this 
variety as follows : P. cerasifera x P. triHora x P. americana. 
Or if we take the view of Wickson suggested on Page 21, the 
parentage of Cel would be P. cerasifera x P. triUora x P. 
simoni. 

Fruit egg-shaped, medium size, rounded cavity; stem 
medium long and strong-; suture indistinct ; apex pointed ; 
color bright transparent yellow; stone medium large, cling; 



2o6 Plums and Plum Culture 

flavor very American-like without astringency; quality good. 
Leaf quite Cerasifera-like, somewhat cordate, rather sharply 
though tinely double-serrate. 

Originated by Luther Burbank and named by him in 
Vermont Experiment station Bulletin 67 :8, 1898, 

Chalco. — Simon x Burbank; i. e., Primus simoni x P. 
triflora. Fruit strongly oblate, much the shape and color of a 
tomato, large ; cavity medium deep, gently rounded ; stem 
short ; suture medium deep ; surface smooth ; color dark red, 
solid ; dots many, small, indistinct ; skin medium thick ; flesh 
yellow, firm and meaty; stone small, oval, only slightly flat- 
tened, nearly free ; flavor sweet and sugary ; quality extra, 
none of the peculiar Simon plum flavor. 

Originated by Luther Burbank and introduced in 1898. 

Chicrigland. — Described by the originator as a secondary 
hybrid combining three species, viz. : Primus chicasa x P. 
rivularis x P. glandulosa. Fruit described by Mr. Munson 
as the size of Golden Beauty, fuzzy, rich orange red, stone 
rounded, appearing woolly, after removal of the flesh ; flavor 
entirely distinct and agreeable. The tree is said to be a strong 
grower, with zigzag weeping branches. Leaves rather small, 
elliptical-pointed, rounded or abruptly tapering below, rather 
thick, rough and harsh, margin finely glandular crenulate, 
petioles short and minutely glandular. 

Originated with T. V. Munson, Texas, from seed of a 
plum grown by F. M. Ramsey, Lampasas county, Texas, and 
named in 1898. 

Climax (Royal of Van Deman). — Botan pollinated with 
Simon. PrUnus triflora x P. simoni. Fruit strongly heart- 
shaped, very large, as large as an ordinary peach ; cavity deep 
and abrupt; stem short and strong; suture plainly marked, 
but not deep ; apex rounded ; color deep dark red ; many 
yellow dots large and small ; skin thick, firm ; flesh yellow, 
firm ; stone large, somewhat turgid, roughened, free ; flavor 
sweet, rich, fruity; quality fine. Season earliest. 

This is justly regarded by Mr. Burbank as being one of 
his most valuable productions. If, upon extended test, it 
proves hardy, fruitful and otherwise reliable, it will be an 
advance, in many respects, upon any plum now known. 

CoLEUS. — P. triHora x P. cerasifera, perhaps. Fruit 
globular; size small; cavity shallow, abrupt; suture hardly 
visible ; color dark dull deep red ; dots hardly visible ; bloom 
bluish ; skin thick and tough ; flesh medium firm, red ; stone 
small; considerably flattened, cling; flavor flat or a trifle 
musky; quality poor. Leaf large, broad oval, abruptly acute- 
pointed, rounded at base, double-crenulate, dark, fine red, 
conspicuously veined underneath with some pubescence along 
principal veins. 



The Hybrid Plums Described 207 

Specimens from the originator, J. S. Breece. The fruit 
of this plmn is of no value, but the foliage is remarkably fine. 
It is larger, richer, glossier, more deeply and richly colored 
than the foliage of any tree of Pissard plum ever seen by the 
writer. Mr. Breece says that the tree is also a fine grower. 
It seems probable that this will prove worth propagation as 
an ornamental plant. Not yet introduced. 

Compass Cherry. — Produced from a cross between Miner 
and Dwarf Rocky Mountain cherry. Primus pumila hesseyi. 
Fruit oval; size small; cavity broad, shallow; stem short, 
strong; suture a faint line; color dark solid red, or finely 
spotted; dots minute; bloom not seen; skin thick, tough, 




CLIMAX 

flesh yellow, rather firm; stone medium size, oblong, some- 
what pointed and slightly flattened, cling; flavor rather sour; 
quality only fair. 

Originated by H. Knudson, Springfield, Minnesota, in 
1894, and introduced by C. W. Sampson, Eureka, Minnesota, 
in the fall of 1897. This plum (or cherry) has received a 
great deal of attention in certain parts of the west, but does 
not seem to have any special value. 

CoRYMBUS. — Fruit heart-shaped; size small to medium; 
cavity rather shallow; suture shallow; apex pointed; color 
dark wine red; dots invisible; bloom blue; skin strong; 
flesh soft, yellow; stone small, round, smooth, slightly flat- 
tened, cling; flavor rich, sweet; quality extra. 



2o8 Plums and Plum Culture 

Said to be "Smelt cherry x Abundance." This plum is 
evidently of the same parentage as Marble, though different 
pedigrees are given by the originator. Both are worth propa- 
gating. Both suggest Myrobalan. The probable parentage 
seems to be Prunus triUora x P. cerasifera. Received from 
the originator, A. L. Bruce, Texas. 

Culberson. — Parentage the same as Marble. Fruit spher- 
ical or slightly pointed; size medium to large; color dark, 
solid red; dots very many, yellow; bloom bluish; skin very 
thick and tough; flesh yellow; stone small, round, flattened, 
cling; quality good to best. 




DAISV 

A fine plum. From A. L. Bruce, Basin Springs, Texas, 
under name of Mammoth July, but named Culberson by the 
writer in Vermont Experiment station Report 12 :223, 1899. 
Not yet introduced. 

Daisy. — P. angusHfoUa x P. triHora. Fruit heart- 
shaped ; size medium to large ; cavity shallow, rounded ; stem 
medium ; suture obsolete or nearly so ; apex pointed ; color 
the finest bright red ; dots many, minute, yellow ; bloom light 
bluish ; skin thin but firm ; flesh firm, yellow ; stone large, 
oval, pointed, flattened, cling; flavor sprightly, Chicasaw-like; 
quality good. Leaf small, narrow, tapering at both ends, 



The Hybrid Plums Described 209 

thin, smooth, finely and regularly serrate, petiole slender, 
slightly glandular. 

Specimens from the originator, J. S. Breece, North Caro- 
lina. Has strongly the appearance of a Japanese-Chicasaw 
hybrid, the latter species predominating as usual. It is one of 
the most beautiful fruits yet seen. 

Daniel Weeping. — This tree, which I have seen growing 
in the Cornell university orchards, has the aspect of a hybrid, 
though no record of its origin is accessible. 

The tree is bushy spreading and drooping ; leaves thick 
and tough, ovate, acute pointed, rounded at the base, finely 
and smoothly crenulate, petioles short and strong with 2-4 
glands, stipules often present with younger leaves. 

Originated with Dr. Daniel, Louisiana. Sent out by J. L. 
Normand. 

Emerald. — Said by the originator to be P. triUora x P. 
americana. Fruit roundish, large, greenish-yellow, marbled 
with coppery red ; flesh yellowish, translucent, with yellow 
veins, rather tender, stringy, juicy; mild subacid, almost 
sweet; good to very good. — Description by W. A. Taylor, 
Department Agriculture, Washington, D. C. 

Tree somewhat resembles a young thrifty Early Rich- 
mond cherry; bark on stem of tree is spotted, with cork-like 
excrescences; buds very conspicuous, large, long. Americana- 
like; more productive and better for canning than Burbank ; 
hardy and fruitful where Burbank fails in fruit bud. (Theo- 
dore Williams.) Originated under cultivation with Mr. Wil- 
liams by crossing Burbank with Brittlewood, and planted in 
1896. Fruit highly spoken of by Professor Craig. 

Excelsior. — From seed of Kelsey pollinated by Wildgoose 
or DeCaradeuc, probablv the former. This would be P. 
triHora x P. horfulana. This variety is conspicuously a hybrid. 
Its character suggests Wildgoose, though a comparison of the 
blossoming seasons of Kelsey, Wildgoose and DeCaradeuc in 
Florida would make it seem very likely that the pollen-bearing 
parent was DeCaradeuc. 

Fruit medium or large, flattened, or a trifle pointed like 
Abundance; no suture; color deep solid wine-red, with very 
minute, almost invisible, white dots and heavy light-bluish 
bloom ; stem short ; skin firm and without astringency ; flesh 
firm, yellowish, with reddish color toward the pit ; stone flat- 
tened, medium size; quality fine; season June 15 in Florida, 
July 20 in Maryland. Tree vase form, with long slender 
branches; leaves rather large, moderately narrow, oval, 
tapering above, tapering or somewhat rounded at the base, 
glabrous, margin finely irregular crenulate, with prominent 
but minute glands, petiole rather short, with 1-3 small glands; 
flowers small, scattered, white. 

14 



Q.IO 



Plums and Plum Culture 



Originated by George L. Taber, Glen St. Mary, Florida, 
in 1887. A promising plum. 

FoREWATTAMiE. — Said to be a hybrid between Forest Gar- 
den and Pottawattamie, which is Primus amcricana x P. angus- 
tifolia. The foliage and young growth give strong evidence 
of an unusually equal blending of the two species. I have not 
seen the fruit. 

Leaves oval, tapering at the point and rounded at the 
base, thin, irregularly double-serrate, with blunt teeth and 




EXCELSIOR 



inconspicuous glands, slightly tomentous on the veins along 
the back, petiole rather long and slender, usually with 2-3 
small glands. In general the foliage has a softened Miner- 
like look. 

Originated with Theodore Williams, Benson, Nebraska. 

Franklin. — P. triUora x P. angustifoUa. Fruit oblate, 
medium size ; cavity shallow, broad ; stem short, strong ; 
suture bright line: color bright crimson over yellow; dots 
very many, yellow; bloom thin; skin thick and tough; flesh 
yellow; stone medium size, round, slightly flattened, cling. 




The Hybrid Plums Described 211 

Specimens received from the originator, A. L. Bruce, 
'exas, who calls it "Abundance x Unknown." The fruit 
looks very much like Golden and 
has probably the same pedigree. 

Garnet. — Kelsey x Pissard? Kel- 
sey seed. This would be P. tri^ora 
X P. ccrasifera. The account of its 
origin given by Heiges is as fol- 
sey seed. This would be P. triflora 
under a Kelsey tree. . . . . Its 
characteristics indicate that it is a 
chance cross between Pissard that 
grew near, and the Kelsey under 
which it grew." This evidence does 
not seem to have much value of 
itself.* I have specimens of the 
FRANKLIN foliage, but not having seen the 

tree and fruit, I must, for the pres- 
ent, consider this variety subject to removal from the list of 
hybrids. 

Heiges gives the following description of the fruit: 
"Roundish oval, large, smooth, dark garnet red; dots minute, 
russet; bluish bloom; cavity small, regular, of medium depth, 
flaring, marked with blue bloom; stem short, of medium 
caliber; suture very shallow and almost obscure; skin thin, 
moderately tenacious, bitter; stone medium size, oval, cling; 
llesh yellowish, translucent, stained with red on one side, 
mild, almost sweet, good. Season June 25 to 30" (in North 
Carolina). Leaves round oval, quite broad, abruptly taper- 
ing above, tapering or rounded below, roughly double-serrate, 
slightlv glandular margins, glabrous above, slightly tomentous 
on the mid-nerve underneath, petiole short and stout, with 
inconspicuous glands or glandless, large, feathery, deciduous 
stipules. 

The history and parentage of this plum are exactly the 
same as of Coleus. The foliage is much the same and appears 
to be the most valuable feature of the variety. The fruit 
resembles Satsuma in color and flesh, but appears to be of 
small promise. Season early. Has not been introduced to 
the trade. Mr. Breece says, "The fruit is quite satisfactory, 
but too sparingly produced." 



* Several cases have come to liglit in which hybridity has been sus- 
pected on the evidence of reddish-colored foliage. But red-leaved seed- 
lings occur rather frequently without any possible antecedent cross. 
They are especially common from Kelsey, though not rare from other 
Japanese varieties. Pissard itself is probably only another such sport, 
and J. W. Kerr has produced a red-leaved seedling from DeCaradeuc. 



112 



Plums and Plum Culture 



Georgia (Normand No. 20). — Probably a hybrid of Jap- 
anese stock with Wildgoose or Chicasaw. Named by Bailey 
and described as follows : "Fruit of medium size, but variable, 




oblong, very blunt or sometimes with a cavity at the apex ; 
color green or light greenish-yellow when first ripe, but 
becoming pinkish, with a very thin nearly white bloom ; flesh 
soft, watery, sweet, cling, with a peculiar breaking skin; ripe 



The Hybrid Plums Described 213 

August 24, some days in advance of the Louisiana. The tree 
has the habit and fruit of the Louisiana, but that plum is more 
distinctly heart-shaped. In common with others of these 
hybrids, Georgia drops when it is still green in color, although 
it is edible at that time, and a pinkish color appears if it is 
allowed to lie on the ground. The tree is a spreading, twiggy 
grower, with slender, glossy, half-zigzag branchlets and foliage 
suggestive of some of the native plums." 

Golden (Gold, of Stark Brothers).— Robinson x Botan, 
Robmson seed; i. e., Prunus angustifolia x P. trifiora. Fruit 
round or oblate, medium to large; cavity medium deep, 
rounded; stem short; no suture; color bright golden yellow, 
overlaid when fully ripe with a fine pink blush, very pretty; 
dots many, yellow, very dim; bloom thin, white; skin thin 
but strong; flesh rather soft and watery, yellow; stone 
medium or small, oval, but little flattened, strongly keeled, 
clmg; flavor sprightly; quality good. Season July 15 to 
August I. Tree dwarfish, rather Chicasaw-like in general 
appearance, leaves small or very small, narrow, oval, tapering 
above, tapering or unequally rounded at base, the upper sur- 
face glabrous, slightly tomentous underneath, especially along 
the veins, margins irregularly dull, crenulate, glandular, 
petiole short, rather stout, with 2-3, small glands. 

The Chicasaw parentage preponderates in this variety, as 
in many others of its class. The characters which are not 
plainly Chicasaw are mostly anomalous, there being very little 
apparent evidence of Japan parentage. An interesting variety 
and worth a trial. The fruit is handsome and ships well, but 
IS inclined to ripen unevenly and to drop before ripe. The 
tree is a good grower, and seems to be comparatively hardy. 
It has stood the winters here in Vermont in almost perfect 
condition, though several of the Wildgoose and Wayland 
varieties suffered considerably. 

This variety has sometimes been confused with Juicy, but 
the two are altogether distinct, as may be seen from a com- 
parison of the figures and descriptions here given. 

Mr. Burbank has sent me several very promising seed- 
lings of Golden. 

Gonzales.— Fruit large, about the size and shape of Bur- 
bank, nearly spherical, sometimes a little irregular, and occa- 
sionally slightly pointed; bright, wine red, indistinctly striped 
and splashed with deeper crimson, with many small, yellowish 
dots; bloom white; skin moderately thick and firm, not harsh 
nor astringent; flesh rather firm and meaty, light red, 
sweet and pleasant; stone medium size, oval, flattened, cling;' 
quality first-rate. Leaves narrow, oval, tapering almost 
equally at both ends, margin finely crenulate and minutely 
glandular, surface glabrous above, a few small, fine hairs on 



The Hybrid Plums Described 215 

the mid-nerve at the back, petiole rather short and slender, 
with usually two small glands. 

Originated in Gonzales, Texas, about 1894, and introduced 
by F. T. Ramsey in 1897, A very promising plum. 

GovALLE. — P. tri flora x P. angiistifolia, probably. Fruit 
oblong, medium size; cavity shallow; stem short, strong; 
suture obsolete; color bright red; dots many, fine, white; 
bloom bluish; skin thin; flesh a trifle soft, stringy; stone 
medium large, flattened, cling; flavor sprightly subacid; 
quality good, season early. Leaf medium size, oval, pointed 
at both ends, thin, light green, very minutely glandular ser- 
rate, petiole short. Originated in Texas and introduced by 
J:^. 1. Ramsey in 1898. Thought to be a seedling of Kelsey. 

Grayson.— P. hortulana x P. americana, perhaps. Fruit 
irregularly spherical; size medium; cavity medium deep; 
suture a line; apex slightly indented; color clear red; dots 
many, yellow, conspicuous ; bloom heavy, white ; skin medium 
1- 1 '1 n'^'^ yellow, rather soft; stone medium size, oval 
slightly flattened, cling; quality good. Season after Wildgoose. 
Leaf large, oval, rough, very finely pubescent underneath, 
rounded below, tapering above, double crenulate-serrate, 
petiole glandular. 

The twigs and foliage are Americana-like, except the 
margins of the leaves ; the fruit is intermediate between Wild- 
goose and Wayland. An odd and interesting plum. Received 
AT°"^T o '& ^^"^sey, Austin, Texas. Introduced in 1898 by 
Mr. J. b. Kerr, who writes that this is "from the seed of Wild- 
goose probably fertilized with our native wild plum" (P ameri- 
cana?) _ Originated with A. L. Bruce, Basin Springs, Texas 
about SIX years ago. ■ ■•> 

Halcyon.— P._ trlllora x P. angiistifolia, probably. Fruit 
heart-shaped; cavity deep, rounded; stem stout; suture shal- 
ow ; color bright red ; dots few or none ; skin thin ; flesh vel- 
low; stone large, oval, winged, cling. Leaf medium s'ize, 
narrow pointed at both ends, thin and smooth on both sides, 
minutely crenulate-serrate, petiole with small glands. 

Originated with J. S. Breece. North Carolina, who does 
not regard it highly and who will not propagate it. 

Holland.— From. Kelsey seed, supposed to be crossed with 
Lonestar. This would be Pruniis friHora x P. angusfifolia. 
Fruit size and form of Abundance, greenish-yellow splashed 
with red; flesh moderately firm and juicy, vinous, adheres 
slightly to stone. Season late June in Texas. 

Tree vigorous, of rather compact, stocky habit, leaves 
mediuni large, ovate or lanceolate, taoering at both ends, thin. 
Hat and glabrous, margins finelv glandular-serrate, petioles 
mediuni with occasional small glands. 



2l6 



Plums and Plums Culture 



Originated by D. H. Watson, Brenham, Texas, and intro- 
duced in 1897 by W. A. Yates. 

Juicy. — A seedling of Robinson pollinated with Botan. 
Prunus angustifolia x P. triflora. Fruit irregularly ellipsoid, 
medium size ; cavity medium deep, rounded ; stem medium 
long, strong ; color clear yellow ; many indistinct white dots 
and a thin white bloom ; skin thin ; bloom thin, white ; flesh 
yellow, rather soft and watery; stone medium large, flattened, 
pointed, cling; quality fair to good. Season last of July. 




JUICY 



Tree a strong, rampant, upright grower ; leaves medium to 
large, ovate, taper-pointed, rounded at the base, glabrous, 
margins finely serrate, petiole rather short, with small glands. 
Originated by Luther Burbank, and first offered in 1893. 
Introduced by John Lewis Childs in 1894. 

Lannix. — Thought to be a cross of Abundance and Wild- 
goose. The following description from Heiges plainly sug- 
gests W^ildgoose, but does not indicate the participation of 
Abundance. 



The Hybrid Plums Described 217 

"Fruit oval, medium size ; color coppery red, a little 
darker than Wildgoose; dots minute, light russet; bloom 
light blue; cavity medium size, round, deep, abrupt; stem 
short; suture very shallow; skin thin, tenacious, bitter; 
stone large, oval, cling; flesh yellowish-translucent, slightly 
fibrous; flavor mild subacid, rich; quality good. Season (in 
North Carolina) June 20-25." Leaf rather large, oval, 
pointed, rounded at the base, rather leathery in appearance, 
smooth on both sides, margin finely crenulate-serrate, gland- 
less, petiole short and stout, usually glandless. 

Late Conical. — Primus triflom x P. simoni. Fruit 
strongly conical, rather large; cavity shallow, abrupt; stem 
short; suture shallow; color red and purplish over yellow; 
dots many, large, yellow; bloom heavy, purplish; skin 
medium thick ; flesh yellow, solid, firm ; stone medium size, 
flattened, pointed, free; flavor sweet and agreeable; quality 
superfine. The finest quality of any plum yet examined, 
though Mr. Burbank thinks this is not a fair comparison. 
Tree a rapid grower, form of Burbank. Leaves medium to 
large, broadly oval, abruptly pointed, tapering at the base, 
rather stifif, margins rather coarsely double-crenulate, petiole 
large, set with glands. 

Originated by Luther Burbank and named by him in Ver- 
mont Experiment station Bulletin 67:16, 1898. 

Louisiana. — Primus triHora x P. hortulana or P. angus- 
tifolia. Fruit irregularly ovoid, medium to large ; cavity 
shallow, rounded ; stem medium ; visible suture ; color greenish 
overlaid with dull red: dots many, large, whitish; bloom 
thick, white; skin medium thick; flesh yellow, stringy; stone 
large, oval, flattened, cling; flavor sprightly subacid, good; 
quality fair. Season September i. Tree a slender and 
spreading grower, strongly suggesting Wildgoose, leaves 
medium size, tapering at both ends, very finely glandular- 
crenulate. glabrous, petioles glandular. This variety has the 
bad habit of ripening unevenly and dropping from the tree 
before maturing. It has proved hardy thus far at Ithaca, 
New York. 

Sent out by J. L, Normand, named by Professor Bailey 
in Cornell Experiment station Bulletin 139:377, 1897. 

Marble. — Fruit heart-shaped, small ; cavity medium 
deep; suture shallow; apex pointed; color dark wine red; 
dots invisible; bloom blue; skin tough and medium thick; 
flesh yellow; stone small, oval, slightly flattened, cling; 
flavor rich and sweet; quality excellent. An odd and very 
interesting plum of high quality. 

Said by the originator, A. L. Bruce of Texas, to be a cross 
of Weaver with Crimson Beauty; but Mr. Bruce's Weaver 



21 8 Plums and Plum Culture 

seems to be certainly Miner. Crimson Beauty belongs to the 
Wayland group. 

Twenty or thirty other varieties of the same or very simi- 
lar parentage were received from Mr. Bruce. 

Maryland. — A seedling of Utah Hybrid, which see. 
Primus angustifoiia zvatsoni x P. piunila bcsseyi. Fruit 
round or slightly ellipsoid, small, dark red or maroon; stone 
medium size, pointed, cling. Season July 15-25 (in jNIary- 
land). Leaves large, oval, pointed, rounded at the base, 
thickish, harsh, smooth above, tomentous below, margin irreg- 
ularly crenulate and minutely glandular, petiole short, strong, 
with 2-3 prominent glands. 




MAYNARD 

Of no value in the orchard. Originated with J. W. Kerr, 
Denton, Maryland, and introduced in 1896. 

Maynard. — P. triUora x P. simoni. Fruit oval, obliquely 
truncate, large to very large ; cavity medium deep, broad ; 
stem medium length; suture obsolete; color deep dull red; 
dots very many, minute; bloom thin, whitish; skin thin; 
flesh yellow, reddening from the outside, meaty ; stone me- 
dium large, oval, flattened, roughened, perfectly free; flavor 
rich and sweet, quality extra fine. Originated by Luther Bur- 
bank and named by him in Vermont Experiment station Report 
12 :226, 1899. Named after Professor S. T. Maynard. A very 
fine plum. 



The Hybrid Plums Described 219 



Minnie.— Probably Abundance pollinated with Wild- 
goose. Prunus triHora x P. hortiilana. Leaf very much like 
Abundance, large, slightly obovate, abruptly pointed, rounded 
at the base, smooth on both sides, margin irregularly double- 
crenulate-serrate, with occasional small glands, petiole short 
and stiff, with several glands. 

Originated with J. S. Breece, North Carolina, and named 
in 1898. Not yet introduced. 

Monolith. — "It appears to be intermediate between Botan 
(Abundance) and Wildgoose." This variety has exactly the 
same standing as Lannix and like that variety appears from 
the description to show strong Wildgoose characteristics with- 
out a corresponding balance of Japanese marks. 

Heiges describes the fruit as follows: "Roundish, slightly 
conical, medium size; bright coppery red, with longitudinal 
stripes of darker red; dots numerous, minute, russet; bloom 
profuse, pale blue ; cavity medium in size and depth, round, 
flaring; stem slender; suture very shallow; skin thin, tena- 
cious, bitter ; stone medium size, oval, semi-cling ; flesh 
yellowish, translucent, meaty, tender, juicy, somewhat fibrous; 
flavor mild subacid, rich ; quality good to very good. Season 
July 15 (in North Carolina)." 

Originated with J. S. Breece, Fayetteville, North Carolina. 
Named in 1895, but not yet introduced. 

Mule (of J. W. Kerr).— Troth Early Peach crossed on 
Wildgoose plum. An authentic hybrid. Tree with very much 
the form of Wildgoose plum, but looking m.ore like a peach 
on account of the peach-like foliage. Twigs and leaves quite 
peach-like, the latter, however, rather broader and stiffer than 
peach leaves, sharply tapering at the point, rounded at the 
base, margin sharply and irregularly appressed glandular 
crenulate, petiole short and stiff, with three to six glands. 
The tree forms flower buds which never blossom. They con- 
tain deformed anthers, but no pistils. The variety is there- 
fore perfectly sterile. 

NiKKO. — Parentage unknown, but probably Satsuma on 
one side. I have not had the opportunity to examine this 
variety, which is characterized as a good dark red, red-fleshed, 
conical plum. 

Originated by Burbank and first offered for sale in 1898. 

Nona. — P. triflora x P. angustifolia, probably. Fruit 
oval, slightly pointed; size medium; cavity abrupt; stem 
medium ; suture scarcely visible ; apex slightly pointed ; color 
dark red, slightly striped ; dots many, yellow, large and small ; 
bloom light, bluish; skin thick, firm, a trifle bitter; flesh 
reddish-yellow, a little stringy; stone medium size, round, 
slightly flattened, cling; flavor sprightly subacid, quality fine. 



The Hybrid Plums Described 221 

A good-looking early market plum, somewhat the size and 
form of Wildgoose, but firmer, darker and more pointed. 

Specimens received from F. T. Ramsey, Austin. Texas. 
This plum belongs to the same series as Holland and Yates. 
Originated with D. H. Watson, Brenham, Texas, and intro- 
duced by W. A. Yates, 1897. 

Occident (Sultan of Burbank^. — P. triftora, perhaps 
crossed with some undeterminable species. Fruit nearly 
spherical, very large ; cavity medium deep ; stem short, stout ; 
suture shallow; color rather dull red over greenish; dots 
many, yellow ; bloom blue ; skin medium thin ; flesh dark 
red; stone medium large, round, turgid, rough, winged, free. 




OCCIDENT 



Specimens received from the originator, Luther Burbank, 
California. It is a fine, large, long-keeping fruit, with flesh 
strongly suggesting Satsuma. Does not seem to be different 
in any important particular from Apple, which see. The 
name Occident was substituted for Sultan by the writer 
because the latter was previously occupied. See Downing, 
Fruits and Fruit Trees, Appendix, p. 157, 1876. 

Ollie. — Wayland x Wildgoose, according to Mr. Bruce. 
Fruit oval ; size medium ; cavity shallow ; suture faint line ; 
color dark red ; dots invisible ; skin rather thin ; flesh yel- 
low, with some reddish lines; stone medium size, round, flat- 
tened, cling. 



222 



Plums and Plum Culture 



Fruit received from the originator, A. L. Bruce, Basin 
Springs, Texas. Does not appear to be of value. 

Pendent. — Said to be from seed of Pottawattamie polli- 
nated by Forest Garden. This would be P. angustifolia x P. 
americana. I have seen only the leaves and these seem to be 
intermediate between the supposed parents. 

Leaves medium large, long, ovate, taper-pointed, rounded 
at the base, rather stiff and harsh, especially harsh on the under 
side, margin medium, finely double-serrate, with an occasional 
minute gland, petiole slender, usually with two small glands. 




PRESIDENT 



Originated with Theodore Williams, Benson, Nebraska, 
and introduced by J. W. Kerr, Denton, Maryland, 1898. 

Pennock. — From seed of Rocky Mountain cherry thought 
to be pollinated with Arctic. This would be Primus pumila 
besseyi x P. domestica. The meager specimens which I have 
examined show a preponderance of the cherry characters, but 
also suggest P. domestica in some respects. 

Mr. Pennock describes the fruit as follows: "Nearly 
round, about an inch in diameter, deep blue in color with a 
bloom, having a slight suture, flavor between a plum and 
cherry, excellent to eat out of hand or for preserves or can- 
ning; tree of dwarfish growth, but upright. Was raised from 
seed planted in 1893." The leaves are medium size, ovate, 
tapering at both ends, rather coarsely serrate, flat and thickish, 



The Hybrid Plums Described 223 

with some fine tomentum on either side, petiole short and stiff, 
occasionally a small gland at the base of blade. The stone is 
small, round and cherry-like. 

Mr. Pennock, Fort Collins, Colorado, the originator, says 
he now has Early Richmond cherry and Arctic plum growing 
nicely on the same stock of this variety. He has thus far 
found it a very useful stock for plums. 

Preserver. — Probably a cross of Kelsey with Early Red, 
Kelsey seed. This would be Prunus triHora x P. angustifolia. 
Eruit dark red; flesh red, firm. Season June (in Texas). 
Tree vigorous, compact, leaves small, lance-ovate, tapering at 
both ends, thin, flat and glabrous, margins finely glandular 
serrate, petioles rather short and slender, with occasional 
small glands. 

Originated with D. H. Watson, Brenham, Texas, and 
introduced by W. A. Yates in 1897. 

President. — P. triHora x P. siiiioni; seedling of Wickson. 

Fruit heart-shaped, large or very large ; cavity deep, rounded ; 

stem short, very stout ; suture shallow ; apex pointed ; color 

dark, fire red ; dots many, 
minute ; bloom thin, blue ; 
skin thin ; flesh firm, meaty, 
yellow ; stone large, oval, 
pointed, flattened, semi-cling; 
flavor peculiar, a trifle like 
muskmelon ; quality poor to 
fair in the specimens exam- 
ined, though said by Mr. Bur- 
bank to be much superior to 
Wickson. 

Grown by Mr. Burbank, 
California ; named by the au- 
RAGLAND ^^^o^ ^" Vermont Experiment 

station Report 12 1229, 1899. 

Presley. — Probably Miner x Wayland. Eruit slightly 
oval, medium size: cavity shallow; suture a line; color bright 
red ; dots many, indistinct ; bloom thin ; skin thick and tough ; 
Hesh yellow; stone small, round, flattened, cling; quality 
good. 

Specimens received from the originator, A. L. Bruce, 
Basin Springs, Texas. 

Ragland. — Fruit oblate, size medium ; cavity broad and 
rounded ; stem medium long, strong ; sature none ; color 
bright clear yellow ; dots many, yellowish ; bloom white ; skin 
rather thin ; flesh yellow, firm ; stone small, round, flattened, 
cling ; flavor sweet and rich ; quality extra. 

Early and fine, but the yellow color is against it for a 




224 Plums and Plum Culture 

market plum. Originated with D. H, Watson, Brenham, 
Texas, and introduced by W. A. Yates in 1897. Parentage 
probably the same as Holland, Nona and Yates. 

Ray. — Miner x Wildgoose, perhaps. Fruit oval to 
spherical ; size small to medium ; cavity medium deep ; suture 
faint line ; color dark red ; bloom blue ; skin medium thin ; 
flesh yellow ; stone small to medium, round, slightly flat- 
tened, cling. 

Specimens received from the originator, A. L. Bruce, 
Basin Springs, Texas. Does not seem to be of value. 

Red May. — P. triflora x P. hortiilana. Specimens of this 
plum have not been examined. The following account is 
taken from the catalog of the introducer: "The fruit is larger 
than that of Wildgoose, oblong, pointed, covered all over with 




RUBY 

deep red, very similar to Red June in size, color and shape, 
but five to ten days earlier, more prolific and the tree much 
more vigorous, according to fair tests in 1896 and 1897 ; resem- 
bling Abundance in growth, blooms rather late, between Botan 
and Ogon ; ripens May 25 to June 10. , . . From seed of 
Abundance fertilized by Wildgoose." 

Originated with A. L. Bruce, Basin Springs, Texas, and 
introduced by J. S. Kerr, Sherman, Texas, 1898. 

Ruby. — P. triUora x P. hortulana. Fruit heart-shaped, 
medium size ; cavity shallow ; stem short ; suture very faint 
line ; apex pointed ; color dark, fine wine red ; dots very 
minute ; skin thick ; flesh yellow, firm ; stone large, oval, 
pointed, flattened, cling; flavor sweet and rich; quality good. 
Leaf oval, pointed, rather thin but harsh, margin very finely 
crenulate, petiole sub-glandular. Partakes strongly of Prunus 



The Hybrid Plums Described 225 

triUora characters. A promising plum. Received from the 
originator, J. S. Breece, Fayetteville, North Carolina, who 
writes: "Ruby is quite successful in every way, except its lack 
of quality." Quality seems to me to be above the average. 
Not yet introduced. 

Satin. — P. hortulana x P. triUora. Fruit round oval ; 
size medium ; cavity medium ; suture a line ; color red ; dots 
many, large, yellow ; bloom white ; skin thick and very tough ; 
flesh very firm, yellow ; stone medium size, oval, slightly flat- 
tened, cling; flavor Americana-liKe ; quality good. Leaf oval, 
long-pointed, thin, green, wholly glabrous, margin finely and 
evenly serrate, petiole glandular. 

Thought to be a hybrid of Moreman and Japanese. Prom- 
ising. Specimens received from the originator, J. S. Breece of 
Fayetteville, North Carolina. 

ScRiBNER. — P. hortulana x P. triUora. Fruit oval, large; 
cavity large, rounded; stem short, strong; suture faint line; 
color dark fine red ; dots many, small, indistinct ; bloom 
heavy, light bluish ; skin firm ; flesh medium firm, meaty, 
yellow; stone large, flattened, cling; flavor none; quality 
extra poor. 

Specimens received from the originator, J. S. Breece, 
North Carolina, who says : "Not productive, not good quality, 
rejected." 

Shiro. — P. angustifolia x P. cerasifera x P. triUora x P. 
simoni, according to Burbank. That is Robinson x Myrob- 
alan x Wickson. Specimens not seen. Described as bearing 
"in the utmost profusion, fruit medium to large, very uniform 
in size, clear light yellow, with an almost imperceptible thin, 
white bloom, and so transparent that the pit can be seen 
through the flesh, which is firm, yet juicy, rich, pleasant sub- 
acid, clingstone ; ripens two weeks before Burbank." 

Originated by Luther Burbank and first offered in New 
Creations, 1899, H- 

Sirocco. — Said to be a probable cross of Abundance and 
Marianna. The fruit is described by Heiges as follows : 
"Roundish oval, medium size ; coppery red under streaks of 
yellow ; dots minute, light russet ; bloom light blue ; cavity 
small, very shallow, abrupt ; stem short, slender ; suture a 
trace ; skin thin ; stone medium size, oval ; flesh reddish- 
yellow near the skin and yellow near the stone, fine grained, 
very juicy, sweet subacid, quality good. Season middle July 
(in North Carolina)." 

Utah Hybrid (Cherry). — Bailey decided in 1894 that "all 
botanical evidence goes to show that this plant is a hybrid of 
Primus besscyi (the Rock mountain dwarf cherry) and the 
sand plum, P. watsoni," and he gave the following botanical 

15 



226 Plums and Plum Culture 

details bearing out this supposition. This plant has been 
named Primus utahensis by Dr. Dippel (Laubholzkunde 3:634, 

1893). 

The Black Utah Hybrid cherry originated with J. E. 
Johnson at Wood river, Nebraska, on or near the Platte river, 
probably sometime in the sixties. Mr. Johnson grew native 
dwarf cherries and sand plums in his garden. Seeds of these 
cherries were sown. One of the seedlings was saved and 
propagated. Mr. Johnson soon afterward moved to Utah, 




VULCAN 

whence, it appears, he distributed this variety as the Utah 
Hybrid cherry. 

Plant dwarfish, 3-4 feet high, twigs somewhat zigzag like 
P. zvatsoni, leaves small, narrow ovate, pointed at both ends, 
somewhat conduplicate and a trifle rough, margins crenulate, 
glandless, petioles medium short, occasionally with small 
glands, fruit small, spherical, cherry-like, but with a plum-like 
bloom ; stone round, cherry-like. 

This hybrid has not proved to be of any practical value, 
except perhaps in rare circumstances. One of the best of the 
class is Mr. Kerr's seedling, Maryland, which see. 



The Hybrid Plums Described 227 

ViRGiE. — Said to be Miner x Crimson Beauty. Fruit 
nearly spherical ; size medium ; cavity very shallow ; suture 
a line; color deep crimson; dots many, yellow; skin thin; 
flesh yellow; stone small, round, slightly flattened, cling; 
quality good. 

Belongs to the same series as Marble. Originated and 
named by A. L. Bruce, Texas. 

Vulcan. — P. triflora x P. simoni, probably. Fruit oval, 
the two halves unequal, very large; cavity large, abrupt; 
stem short, very stout ; suture deep at top, ends in a line ; 
apex pointed ; color purple, shaded into black ; dots many, 
yellow ; bloom blue ; skin tender ; flesh red at outside, shaded 
to yellow at center ; stone large, elliptical, slightly flattened 
and winged, cling; flavor pleasant, sweet; quality excellent. 

Originated by Luther Burbank, and not yet introduced. 
A fine, large fruit, something after the character of Wickson. 

Watson. — Probably a hybrid ; from Kelsey seed, thought 
to be pollinated by Lonestar. This would be Pruniis triilora x 
P. angustifolia. Fruit large, rather pointed, red when fully 
ripe; flesh yellow, juicy, melting, adhering slightly to the pit, 

which is small. Tree vigorous, 
of somewhat open habit, leaves 
medium to large, ovate-lanceo- 
late, taper-pointed, tapering or 
slightly rounded at the base, 
thin and glabrous, margins fine- 
ly serrate with minute glands, 
petiole short, sometimes with 
small glands. Said by the in- 
troducer to be very prolific and 
valuable. 

Originated with D. H. Wat- 
son, Brenham, Texas, and in- 
troduced by W. A. Yates, 1897. 

ZULU Wickson.— P. triffora x P. 

simoni. Fruit heart-shaped ; 
size large to very large ; cavity abrupt : stem very short and 
stout; suture usually medium; apex pointed; color dark red: 
dots many, yellow; bloom thick, bluish; skin firm; flesh 
yellow, solid, meaty; stone large, oval, slightly flattened, cling; 
flavor sweet; quality good, season medium. 

This variety has been extensively planted in the eastern 
states, considering its newness. It is now in bearing in many 
orchards. It is a beautiful, large plum, but shows signs of 
being a light bearer. The tree is a strict, upright grower, 
like Prunns simoni, and not of good form for bearing heavy 
crops. It is generally hardy as far north as Rochester, New 
York. Originated by Luther Burbank. 




228 Plums and Plum Culture 

Yates. — Probably a hybrid; from Kelsey seed thought to 
be pollinated by Lonestar. This is Prunus trifiora x P. angus- 
Hfolia. Very much like Holland, from which we need not 
distinguish it here. Originated with D. H. Watson, Bren- 
ham, Texas, and introduced by W. A. Yates, 1897. 

Zulu. — Parentage undeterminable. Fruit round, or some- 
what oblate ; size medium ; cavity broad, open ; stem short, 
strong; suture shallow; color very dark dull red, almost 
black; dots many, minute, whitish; bloom blue; skin thin 
and tender; flesh firm, juicy, red; stone medium large, 
rounded, only slightly flattened, cling; flavor rich and sweet; 
quality good to best. Leaf large oval, abruptly acute pointed, 
margin coarsely double-crenulate. 

An early plum of high quality, but not so promising as a 
shipping or market variety. Produced by Luther Burbank, 
who says regarding its parentage : "It is a mystery, being three 
or four generations from innumerable crosses, and resembles 
no other known species or variety." Not yet introduced. 




XXVII 

Miscellaneous and Unclassified Varieties Named and 
Described 




LPHA — A variety of Prumis maritima 
selected from the fields of New Jer- 
sey, where this species grows abun- 
, dantly wild, and sent to J. W. Kerr of 
Maryland by E. W. Winsor. Named 
by Mr. Kerr and said to be of large 
size and quality. 

Anderson (Anderson's Early Red). 
— "A young and regular bearer; fruit 
medium size, quality medium ; season 
August 10-20. Found along the river 
near Sioux Rapids, Iowa." — Goff, 
Wisconsin Bulletin 62,. 

Bassett (Bassett's Am.erican).— Fruit spherical or slightly 
oblate; size small, about five-eighths inch in diameter; cavity 
shallow; stem short; suture a line; apex slightly depressed; 
color reddish over a green ground ; dots minute ; bloom blue ; 
skin tough ; flesh yellow ; stone circular, smooth, slightly flat- 
tened, free ; quality fair ; season medium late. 

The best known named variety of Prunus maritima in 
cultivation. 

229 



230 Plums and Plum Culture 

Beta. — Said by J. W. Kerr to be a distinct yellow variety 
of Prunus maritima, collected in New Jersey by E. W. Winsor. 

Bluemont. — A variety of the Watsoni group, which origi- 
nated some years ago at 'Manhattan, Kansas, and still grown 
locally in a small way. It has recently been favorably reported 
to me by William Cutter of Junction City, Kansas, who says 
that it has usually been propagated by suckers. 

Brill. — A variety of southern origin, thought to have 
come from Mississippi, and grown to some extent in Texas. 
Introduced to the nursery trade by J. T. Whitaker, Tyler, 
Texas. Myrobalan. 

Cherry (or Early Cherry).— The whole Myrobalan spe- 
cies is commonly called the Cherry plum, especially in Europe. 
This is recognized in the scientific name, Primus cerasifera, — 
"the cherry-bearing plum." The name Cherry was recognized 
by Downing and all our early pomologists as a synonym of 
Myrobalan, which, as elsewhere explained, is to be regarded 
as a class name rather than as a variety name. Two or three 
varieties of the Myrobalan group, however, continue to be 
grown in various parts of the country under the name of 
Cherry, Early Cherry, etc. Such names are illegitimate. 

Chippewa. — A dwarf variety from Chippewa Falls, Wis- 
consin, mentioned in Iowa Bulletin I9:554- 

Cook.— Listed in the Marianna (Myrobalan) group by 
J. W. Kerr, and described as "medium size, round, inclining 
to oblong, red, cling." 

Couler. — "The Couler is a large plum of fair quality, 
ripening a little before Miner, but sometimes cracks open 
badly before ripe." — O. H. Kenyon, McGregor, Iowa, horti- 
cultural report 27:235. From William Couler, Chicasaw 
county, Iowa. The variety seems to have been left behind in 
the progress of native plum breeding in Iowa. 

De Caradeuc. — Fruit globular, medium size, with a promi- 
nent suture line, deep purplish-red, with a thin bloom ; skin 
thin; flesh soft, juicy, yellow; stone medium size, roundish, 
turgid, cling; quality only fair; season early; tree a rather 
large and erect grower. Bailey gives the following history of 
the variety: "About a year ago I became convinced that De 
Caradeuc is Prunus cerasifera, and I was glad to have my 
opinion confirmed by so good a nurseryman as P. J. Berck- 
mans of Georgia, who named, the variety ; and the origin of 
the plum, which I have since learned, corroborates my con- 
clusion. It originated with A. De Caradeuc upon his former 
farm near Aiken, South Carolina, about the years 1850 to 1854. 
Mr. De Caradeuc imported some French plums, from the seed 
of which this variety came. There were several Chicasaw 
plums in the vicinity of the French trees and Mr. De Caradeuc 



Miscellaneous Varieties Described 231 

thinks that the variety under consideration is a hybrid, but I 
am unable to discover any evidence of hybridity. The original 
tree of the variety 'outgrew the parent and reached a diameter 
of head of fifteen feet, was entirely free from thorns and 
suckers, and bore a remarkably rich and beautiful foliage.' 
The variety blooms very early, some days ahead of the Mari- 
anna, and the flowers, as in all varieties of P. cerasifera, are 
somewhat scattered and less abundant than in the native 
species." — Cornell Experiment station Bulletin 62 136, 1892. 

Diamond. — A variety under this name is mentioned by 
John A. Hogg in Nebraska Horticultural Report 121, 1890. The 
name doubtless belongs to the variety of the Domestica group 
described elsewhere in this book. Probably the variety is now 
extinct and need not be renamed. 

Dwarf Rocky Mountain Cherry. — The variety intro- 
duced several years ago under this name by Charles E. Pen- 
nock of Colorado has received a good deal of notice. The 
interest in it arises chiefly from the fact of its novelty. It 
does not seem to have any general merit as a garden fruit. It 
is the best known representative of Primus pumila bcsseyi in 
cultivation. The tree is dwarf, four feet high, bushy, and 
subject to the attacks of the twig blight (monilia), but other- 
wise hardy. The fruit is small, oval, black, rather sour and 
puckerish. Mr. Pennock has been using this variety in hybrid- 
ization with promising results. 

Ebon. — Put into the Marianna (Myrobalan) group by J. W. 
Kerr, who describes it as follows: "New, medium size, round 
to round oblong; skin very dark red; flesh red, cling; tree a 
free upright growler, with distinct foliage." 

Ellis. — "Rather large, round, red, skin very thin, semi- 
cling. Ranks high for market or for home use. Late. Said 
to be a cross between Wildgoose and Golden Beauty. Northern 
Texas. Introduced by T. L. Ellis." — Bailey. It seems strange 
that a variety worthy of so much praise should not have been 
heard from since 1892. 

Fawn. — Fruit irregular spherical ; size medium ; cavity 
medium, rounded; stem slender; suture a line; color dull 
red; dots many, large, yellow; bloom apparently none; skin 
thick, tough ; flesh yellow ; stone medium size, oval, only 
slightly flattened, cling ; quality fair to good. 

Specimens from J. W. Kerr, Maryland. 

FROSTPROOF.^Fruit spherical, small, cherry-like; deep, 
dark crimson, with a fine suture line and many very minute 
dots ; skin medium thick and firm, not astringent ; flesh yel- 
low, more or less streaked with red, notably firm, even when 
overripe, meaty, sweet, pleasant ; quality good ; stone small, 
round, smooth, cling; season last of June in Missouri. 



232 Plums and Plum Culture 

Originated and introduced by J. H. G. Jenkins, Spring 
Garden, Missouri, about 1896. Myrobalan group. 

Fuller (Fuller's Egg). — Named to Professor Goff by 
B. A. Mathews of Knoxville, Iowa. 

Crable. — Fruit obovate ; size medium ; cavity very shal- 
.low; stem long, slender; suture a line; apex pointed; color 
orange with crimson blush; dots very many, minute, white; 
bloom blue ; skin very tough ; flesh yellow ; stone large, 
elliptical, slightly winged, cling; quality good. 

Specimens received from Iowa. Probably Prunus 
aincricana. 

Hattie. — Fruit round, small, red; flesh yellow, soft; 
stone small, round, cling; quality poor; season early; tree 
dwarfish. 

Nobody seems to know the history of this variety, and 
probably nobody wants to. Myrobalan group. 

HosKiNS. — "Productive, regular bearer, medium ; ripe 
September i-io; good quality, good shipper, golden color, free- 
stone, with thin, tough skin." Described by the introducer, 
J. Wragg & Son, Waukee, Iowa. 

Iola. — A variety originated by D. B. Wier, Illinois, and 
mentioned by Bailey, Cornell Bulletin 38. Not grown now. 

Ithaca.— Mentioned by Bailey (Cornell Bulletin 38) and 
said to have come from Peter M. Gideon, Minnesota. Not 
known now. 

KiCAB. — Fruit roundish oval ; size medium ; cavity small ; 
stem short, slender; suture very shallow; color crimson with 
purplish stripes radiating from the cavity; dots numerous; 
bloom heavy, lilac ; skin thick, tenacious ; flesh tender, yellow ; 
stone large, oval, cling; flavor mild subacid; quality qrood 
to very good; season August 10-15 in Illinois. 

Seedling raised by Benjamin Buckman, Farmingdale, 
Illinois. Description taken from United States Pomologist's 
Report, 1895, p. 45. 

Marianna.— Fruit round; size small to medium; cavity 
shallow; stem short; suture a line; color bright, clear red; 
dots many, small; bloom thin, white; skin thin; flesh very 
soft and watery, yellow ; stone large, oval, somewhat flattened, 
clmg; flavor peculiar, like sugar and water, without much 
sugar; quality poor; season earlv. 

Originated in the orchard of Charies G. Fitze at Marianna, 
Polk county, Texas. Introduced in 1884 by Charies N. Eley, 
Smith Pomt, Texas. Belongs in the Myrobalan group, though 
perhaps hybridized with some Chicasaw variety. 

Miles.— "Said to have originated in Illinois from seed 
taken from North Carolina." — Bailey. 



Miscellaneous Varieties Described 233 

MiRABELLE. — This is one of the oldest varieties known in 
Europe, belonging probably in the same group with the 
Myrobalan. It is not much known in this country, but speci- 
mens grown in Iowa by J. L. Budd are described as follows 
by Craig: "Form oblate, flattened laterally; size small, 
cherry-like, sometimes two-lobed ; cavity quite large ; suture 
outlined ; apex depressed ; surface smooth, not shiny ; color 
yellow ; dots toward stem end, red ; bloom very thin, lilac ; 
skin thin, tough; flesh fairly firm; stone small, oval, perfectly 
free; flavor sw^eet, melting; quality good to best." 

IMoNONA. — "A plum grown by Mr. Christian Steinman of 
Mapleton, Iowa, reported to be the size of Miner, ripening two 
weeks earlier, and to have been very profitable ; blooms about 
three days later than Miner." — Goff, 

Okaw. — Named in. Bailey's Annals of Horticulture, 
1890:175. 

Parker. — ''Reported as very productive and regular in 
bearing, large size, good quality and early, by Mr. Wedge of 
Minnesota, who considers it very promising." — Goff. 

_ Pearl. — Fruit oval, somewhat flattened ; size medium ; 
cavity very shallow ; stem slender ; suture a line ; color red 
over orange, sometimes spotted; dots minute; bloom blue; 
skin medium thick ; flesh tough ; stone medium size, round 
oval, slightly flattened, nearly free; quality fair; season me- 
dium late. 

Fruit received from J. W. Kerr, Denton, Maryland. 

Piper (Piper's Peach). — A Minnesota variety, and highly 
spoken of by a few growers in that state. 

Potter. — Originated in Cherokee county, Iowa. Probably 
an Americana. 

Purple Panhandle. — Another of the same lot with Red 
Panhandle and Yellow Panhandle, but not mentionably dif- 
ferent from them as far as fruit is concerned. Tree rather 
small, but a rapid grower. One of the Watsoni group. 

Rareripe.— "A dark red plum, a little smaller than De 
Soto, but inferior to Harrison's Peach. Hardy."— Keffer, 
South Dakota Bulletin 26. Probably not propagated at present. 

Red Panhandle. — Fruit irregular oval; size small, about 
three-fourths inch in diameter; cavity shallow; stem slen- 
der; suture a line; color dull dark red; dots scattered; 
bloom thick, bluish; skin tough; flesh reddish-yellow; stone 
large, round oval, slightly flattened, cling; quality very poor; 
tree straggling and uncomely in habit. 

This variety was brought from the Panhandle of Texas 
and introduced in i8g3 by A. M. Ramsey & Son, then of 
Burnet county. Glowing accounts are given of the wild plums 



234 Plums and Plum Culture 

from which these were taken, but when brought into cultiva- 
tion this variety, and others of the same collection, proved to 
be a great disappointment. The introducers soon ceased to 
propagate them, but they tell me that since that time they have 
had frequent inquiries for the plants from those who had 
bought them before and had found them desirable. Prunus 
angustifolia watsoni. 

Simon {Prunus sinioni.) — Fruit strongly oblate; size 
large, an mch to two inches in diameter; cavity deep and 
wide ; stem very short ; suture shallow ; apex a plain dot ; 
color dull dark red; dots many, large and small; bloom 
faint ; skin thick and firm ; flesh hard, meaty, yellow ; stone 
small, round, slightly flattened, partially free; flavor some- 
times fairly sweet, at other times mawkish and disagreeable; 
quality fair to good ; season early. 

Steinman. — "Very good bearer of fair-sized fruit; season 
of Forest Garden; will sell well." — Steinman, Iowa, in Goff. 
Probably Americana. 

Stickney. — "A Baraboo variety grown by Franklin John- 
son of Baraboo, Wisconsin ; season and size of Rollingstone ; 
tender-fleshed." — Goff. 

Strawberry. — Fruit nearly spherical, small ; cavity shal- 
low ; stem slender ; color red, with a thin bloom ; skin thin ; 
flesh yellow, soft; stone roundish, cling; quality poor; tree 
dwarf, symmetrical .and ornamental, but much subject to twig 
blight. Prunus angustifolia watsoni. 

Theresa. — Fruit roundish oval ; size medium ; color red- 
dish-purple ; bloom heavy, blue ; flesh yellowish-green ; flavor 
mild; quality only good; season early in August in Ohio; 
tree a heavy and regular bearer, but variety not otherwise rec- 
ommended by United States Pomologist's Report, 1892. p. 264. 

Trostle — "Has a local reputation about Kingsley, Iowa. 
It is a dark red plum." — The Fruitman. Probably Ameri- 
cana. 

Wady (Wady's Early).— "Early and very good, but the 
tree is a poor grower and the fruit rather small." — Bailey. 

Wilson. — Reported to Professor Goff by Edson Gaylord 
of Iowa as "a very early fine plum." Is this the same as Silas 
Wilson? 

Yellow Panhandle. — Fruit irregular oval ; size small 
to very small ; cavity abrupt ; stem short ; suture light ; apex 
sometimes depressed: color clear red; dots few, indistinct; 
bloom bluish; skin tough; flesh yellow; stone medium^ to 
large, oval, turgid, cling; quality very poor; tree a fairly 
good grower. 

This variety has the same history as Red Panhandle, 
which see. Another of the sand plums. 




XXVIII 

The Propagation of Plums 



HE nurseryman has no more 
complicated subject to deal 
with than the propagation of 
plums. This will be better rea- 
lized after a glance at the fol- 
lowing exhibit of the principal 
groups of plums to be propa- 
gated (nearly all sufiliciently 
diverse to have received spe- 
cific rank at the hands of the botanists), and the lead- 
ing kinds of stocks on which these different groups of 
varieties may be propagated. 

Groups of plums.— Domestica, Damson, Myrobalan (in- 
cluding Marianna), Japanese, Simoni, Americana, Miner, Way- 
land, Wildgoose, Chicasaw, Watsoni. 

Kinds of stocks.— Horse plum, St. Julien, Myrobalan, Ma- 
rianna, Peach, Apricot, Americana, Chicasaw, Wayland, Sand 
cherry, Pacific plum. 




236 Plums and Plum Culture 

This summary shows eleven kinds of stocks for 
eleven different groups of plums. A simple mathe- 
matical calculation shows us that there are 121 differ- 
ent combinations possible with these series. If we 
then take into consideration the added fact that, in 
each one of these cases, the nurseryman has a choice of 
two principal methods of propagation, — budding or 
grafting, — we have doubled the complications, and 
have offered him 242 different combinations from 
which to choose. This is rather too liberal for an ordi- 
nary nurseryman's peace of mind. 

Grozving from seed. — New varieties of plums are 
grown from seed. So are many of the stocks. The 
seed should be saved as soon as the fruit is ripe, and 
should preferably never be allowed to dry out. The 
best treatment is to stratify the seed as soon as gath- 
ered, or to give some treatment which amounts to the 
same thing. The simplest way of stratifying plum pits 
is as follows : Take any suitable box ; one eighteen 
inches wide, two feet long, six inches deep, is about 
right. Put a layer of clean, friable soil in the bottom, 
about an inch deep. Strew a layer of plum pits 
on this, just about covering the soil with the pits. 
Then put in another layer of soil, just well covering 
the pits. Keep on putting in alternate layers of pits 
and soil till the box is full. Then bury the box, not 
deeply, in some well-drained place, where the mice will 
not get at it during the winter and where the pits will 
freeze. Freezing is not absolutely necessary, but it is 
advantageous. It softens and cracks the stones. I 
bury my choicer pits in large flower pots or in pottery- 
ware seed pans. 

In the spring the seeds are sifted out of the soil 
and planted, or the soil and all may be put into the 
seed drills. It is better to sift out the seeds. If the 
stones are of particular value, as when one is handling 



The Propagation of Plums 237 

hybridized seed, they should be cracked by hand, and 
only the kernels need be planted. 

When pits are handled in large quantities for 
growing stocks, the same pains cannot be taken. In 
such cases the stones may either be stratified in large 
boxes, or they may be planted directly in the rows in 
the fall, where they are to grow the following season. 
In the southern states such stocks will grow large 
enough in one year to be budded in the rows in x\ugust 
or September. In the north, they do not get so large. 
They are therefore often sown in seed beds, and are 
transplanted into nursery rows the second spring. 
Even in the northern states, however, seedling stocks, 
especially Americanas, are sometimes grown large 
enough the first year to be grafted; and they are not 
then placed in the nursery rows till after the grafts 
are set. 

Suckers. — Plums are sometimes grown from suck- 
ers. This is said to be a common practice in some 
parts of Europe. When trees are growing on their 
own roots, the varieties may be reproduced in this 
way. A limited number of stocks may be secured in 
this manner at times when other means are imprac- 
ticable: and it is said that many of the Domesticas do 
better in cold latitudes when growing thus on their 
own roots. But planting plums from suckers is to be 
severely discouraged in this country. Other and bet- 
ter methods of propagation are too many and too easy, 
and good plum trees are too cheap, to offer anyone an 
excuse for persisting in such an archaic practice. 

Layers.- — Some of the plums grow well from lay- 
ers. Any plum which will grow from cuttings will 
grow from layers, and so will some others. The dwarf 
sand cherries layer more or less in the natural state, 
and there can be no objection to this method of prop- 



238 Plums and Plum Culture 

agating them in the nursery. Still, layering is not a 
very desirable method for general use. If the sand 
cherry comes to be used much for stocks, perhaps the 
layer method of growing stocks of this species will be 
found more useful. 

Cuttings. — Some of the plums grow well from cut- 
tings. This is especially true of Marianna, and mil- 
lions of Marianna cuttings are made every year in this 
country, mostly for stocks. It is best to take the cut- 
tings in the late fall. Cut them to lengths of five to 
seven inches, and tie in bundles of fifty or one hundred. 
Place these bundles in boxes of damp sand, sawdust or 
moss, and keep them from severe freezing till planting 
time. They may then be set in furrows, or in trenches 
opened with a spade. The St. Julien plum grows fair- 
ly well from cuttings, and nearly all the Myrobalan 
varieties may be propagated in this way. Some of the 
Japanese varieties, especially Satsuma, have been 
grown from cuttings in the southern states. Prac- 
tically, however, propagation by cuttings is confined 
to the Marianna. 

Budding. — The ordinary methods of shield-bud- 
ding are very extensively applied to the propagation of 
the plum. This method is used on all stocks. The 
work is done in x\ugust or September, whenever the 
bark slips best. The process is described in all the 
books on general horticulture; it has been illustrated 
and elucidated so often in the horticultural journals, 
and every fruit grower is so familiar with it, that we 
need not occupy space to describe it in detail here. 
Budding is usually easier and cheaper than grafting; 
and there is a notion prevalent among fruit men that 
it is better adapted to all the stone fruits. There 
are certainly some exceptions to be made among 
the plums. For instance, most varieties when worked 



The Propagation of Plums 239 

on peach give a better union and make a better tree if 
worked by the ordinary whip-graft method than when 
budded. Experiment and experience have both been 
short on this matter, however; and much remains to 
be learned. 

Whip-grafting. — All nurserymen and fruit grow- 
ers know how to make and manage whip-grafts. This 
method has been successfully employed over almost 
the whole range of plums and stocks grown in Amer- 
ica, and has usually been successful. It has done so 
well in putting plums on peach stocks that Mr. J. W. 
Kerr and some other extra-conscientious propagators 
use it exclusively. Even in working on Marianna 
stocks or Myrobalan seedlings, whip-grafting is some- 
times best. In the northwest, where Americana stocks 
are almost exclusively used, whip-grafting is usually 
recommended, but not often employed. On this point 
Professor Craig writes me as follows : 

''On the question of budding and grafting the plum, 
although the latter is talked of a good deal, it is not in it in 
practice. The only institution, either private or public, that I 
know anything of, which has propagated plums by grafting in 
anything like a commercial way, is the Iowa agricultural col- 
lege. The trouble with root-grafting the plum is that the 
stand is so very uncertain. Occasionally the propagator hits 
it all right, but more occasionally he doesn't hit it at all. In 
1897 there were propagated about 12,000 plums by this depart- 
ment. As nearly as I can estimate, fully 85 per cent., perhaps 
90 per cent., grew. These were side-grafted on Americana 
stocks. The best success was in using Americana under Ameri- 
cana. However all this may be, the fact remains that 95 per 
cent, of the plums propagated in this state are by budding 
methods. I may say that in my own experience in propa- 
gating Americana plums on piece roots in the same manner as 
is practiced with the apple — and I am not sure that this is not 
the best plan — I have had fair success ; I think it a good plan 
at any rate." 

Side-grafting. — This is a method used at the Iowa 
agricultural college by Professors Budd and Craig, 



240 



Plums and Plum Culture 




SIDE-GRAFTING.' According to Craig 

and by them found to be more successful in some 
cases than the usual whipgrafting. The accompany- 
ing figure, from a drawing furnished by Professor 



The Propagation of Plums 241 

Craig, illustrates this method of grafting as usually 
conducted in the grafting room in winter; (aj shows 
the scion cut wedge shape, (bj the stock with an oblique 
cleft for the reception of the scion, (c) the scion in 
position, firmly bound with waxed thread, and (dj 
illustrates the joint completed by a covering of graft- 
ing wax to exclude the air. The same method may be 
employed in the nursery row on stocks set the previous 
season. A strong growth is secured the first season, 
surpassing in the north that obtained from a one- 
year bud. 

Top-zvorking. — Plum trees may be top-worked ex- 
actly as apple trees are. The new scions may be set 
in the old tops either as buds, in late summer, or as 
grafts in early spring. Grafting must always be done 
before the leaves start. The insertion may be by the 
cleft method, or by any other scheme which the oper- 
ator may fancy. The usual way is to set the grafts 
in a cleft, just as they are commonly set in apple-tree 
tops. Top-working offers a convenient method of 
filling up tops broken down by wind or by overbear- 
ing. It may be used to change wild or unprofitable 
trees over to better varieties; or it may be employed 
to improve imperfect pollination. It is especially con- 
venient for testing new varieties, and this is the use 
to which it is mostly put among the plum enthusiasts. 
Almost every one of the real plum cranks has a little 
test orchard in which the old tops of some discarded 
trees are cut and patched all over with the scions sent 
by fellow-victims of the craze. Such a garden is usu- 
ally a frightful looking place. It suggests a horticul- 
tural hospital for the severely wounded. But this is 
where the plum crank revels! Here he cultivates his 
imagination, and here he breathes in the inspiration 
of the collector and the connoisseur. 
16 



242 Plums and Plum Culture 

THE VARIOUS STOCKS 

Horse plum. — This is a small-fruited variety ol 
the common Domestica plum, which is sometimes used 
as a stock, especially in western New York, and espe- 
cially for varieties of the Domestica and Damson 
groups. Formerly it was much in vogue, but latterly 
it has been superseded by Myrobalan and Marianna. 
It gives a good, strong, healthy, hardy, long-lived 
tree; but it is more difficult to work and does not give 
so good results in the nursery as do Marianna 
and Myrobalan. 

St. Jnlicn. — The testimony of western New York 
nurserymen and plum growers is quite uniformly to 
the effect that the St. Julien stock is best for the Do- 
mesticas, considered from the standpoint of the or- 
chardist. It makes a better, stronger, longer-lived 
tree than Myrobalan. It grows too slowly, however, 
in the nursery, and the trees are not so salable at two 
years old as when propagated on the other stocks. 
Mr. S. D. Willard writes me as follows: "The trouble 
is, we can never secure first-class stock of this variety 
in France; and, too, at the same age, the trees grown 
on this stock would be about half as large as those on 
Myrobalan. We could not sell them. You have, 
therefore, the best reason in the world why the nurs- 
eryman would not use this stock." 

On this same subject I have the following inter- 
esting letter from Messrs. W. & T. Smith of Geneva, 
New York: ''St. Julien stocks are much preferred by 
the orchardists in this locality, because trees certainly 
do better in every way on that stock. They sprout less 
from the root, are longer-lived, and generally more 
vigorous than when on Myrobalan stocks. We occa- 
sionally plant some St. Julien seedlings, but do not 
make a practice of it, because in the first place St. 



The Propagation of Plums 243 

Juliet! seedlings cost more than double the price of 
Myrobalans, and they are not as thrifty the first year 
they are transplanted. They also are attacked by a 
fungus which causes them to lose their leaves early in 
the summer, thus preventing the budding of the stocks 
altogether, or a partial failure in the buds when this 
leaf fungus is not corrected. Of course, when taken 
in time we can in a large measure prevent this falling 
of the leaves by spraying with bordeaux mixture, but 
taking all things into consideration, it is quite a bit 
more expensive to raise plums on St. Julien stock, and 
we find that we cannot get any more for them in the 
open market, so that we have become discouraged 
growing stocks on St. Julien root." 

In view of this testimony, it seems unfortunate 
that propagation on the St. Julien stock is given up. 
If plum growers would demand trees worked on this 
stock, and would pay the increased cost, the nursery- 
men would be ready at once to supply the demand. 
St. Julien is not recommended outside of New 
York, nor for other plums than Domesticas and 
Damsons. 

Myrobalan. — Seedling Myrobalan stocks are im- 
ported in large quantities from France. The propor- 
tion of these importations varies from year to year, 
being influenced by the price of the stocks in France, 
by the tarifif, and by the domestic supply of Marianna 
and peach stocks. This is the stock most commonly 
employed in the northern states, and it is also freely 
used by many southern nurserymen. Its advantages 
are cheapness, ease of working, readiness with which 
it unites with all scions, freedom from sprouting, and 
ready, clean growth in the nursery. In the old books 
on horticulture, the Myrobalan is usually mentioned as 
a dwarfing stock for the plum; but in this country, 
with our climate, soils and pruning, it produces a 



244 Plums and Plum Culture 

stan'dard tree. In the Mississippi valley it is subject 
to root-killing in cold winters. 

Marianna. — The Marianna plum appears to be 
about two parts Myrobalan and one part Chicasaw. 
It has much the same characters, used as a stock, as 
the seedling- Myrobalan trees imported from France. 
Its advantage is in the ease with which it may be prop- 
agated by cuttings, especially in the south. This ena- 
bles nurserymen to grow their own stocks, — an op- 
portunity of which they often find it advisable to avail 
themselves. As the growing of cuttings is especially 
easy in the southern states, the Marianna plum has 
been more often used as a stock in the states south of 
the Ohio river. Some southern nurserymen use it 
exclusively; but it seems to me that it is waning some- 
what in its popularity. In choosing between Mari- 
anna and Myrobalan, however, a nurseryman would 
be influenced chiefly by the matter of price, and would 
nearly always select the cheaper — which is apt to be 
the Marianna. 

Peach. — The peach has sever?! important advan- 
tages as a stock for the plum. The seed may usually 
be had cheaply from the canning factories, the pits or- 
dinarily give a good stand of strong stocks fit to bud 
the first year, and after budding the young trees grow 
thriftily in the nursery. These circumstances make it 
possible for the nurseryman to grow the best grade of 
marketable young trees at a minimum expense. More- 
over, the peach roots are known to be especially well 
suited to light, sandy soils. Nevertheless, there has 
always been more or less prejudice against the use of 
peach stocks for plum trees. This prejudice has taken 
two points of view : First, it has assumed that the peach 
stock and the plum scion do not make the best possible 
union, and that the tree is therefore liable to be short- 
lived in the orchard; and second, plum trees on peach 



The Propagation of Plums 245 

stocks are less hardy than on plum stocks, especially 
in the north. Neither of these assumptions is so well 
supported by experiment and observation as might be 
wished. Some of the thriftiest and hardiest young 
trees which I know in Vermont are growing on peach 
roots. Nevertheless, I am far from recommending 
peach stocks for northern planters. Indeed, I am in- 
clined to share the popular prejudice against them, and 
to believe that they should not be used for northern 
trees. Mr. Kerr of Maryland, who uses peach stock 
somewhat extensively, always whip-grafts his scions 
upon the peach roots; and says he would not bud 
plums on peach under any circumstances. In most 
cases he secures his plum trees on their own roots in 
this way. This is desirable except with varieties which 
are apt to sprout. 

On the whole, it may be said that the peach has 
plain and undeniable advantages as a stock; that, 
though there is good reason to suspect it of certain 
weaknesses, these weaknesses have not been fully 
proven ; and that, under these circumstances, the peach 
will probably continue to be used as a stock for plums 
in the south for many years to come. 

Apricot. — As a stock for the plum, the apricot 
stands on a level with the peach. It is more seldom 
used, chiefly because the seed is harder to get. Near 
the California canneries, though, where apricots are 
largely canned, apricot seedlings have often been 
used for budding plums. They are not generally 
recommended. 

Alm.ond stocks are also sometimes used. 

Peach, apricot and almond are especially suited 
to light soils, and trees on these stocks may sometimes 
be preferred on this account. 

Americana seedlings. — In Wisconsin, Iowa, Ne- 
braska, and all the region to the northwest, Americana 



246 Plums and Plum Culture 

seedling's are used almost to the exclusion of other 
stocks. Some Myrobalan stocks are used in southern 
Iowa and Nebraska for Domestica and Japanese va- 
rieties and occasionally for Wildgoose sorts. But this 
is the only exception. Americana seedHngs make 
good, strong, thrifty stocks; and they seem to unite 
well with nearly all classes of plums. Experiments 
made by the writer indicate that they are adapted to 
a much wider range, botanically and geographically, 
than has been generally supposed, though it is said by 
propagators of experience that they are not suited to 
the Japanese and Domestica varieties. Their use, 
now practically exclusive in the northwest, is rapidly 
increasing in other neighborhoods; and we may expect 
to see them tried more and more by nurserymen in 
other localities as the price of the stocks decreases. 
Already Americana stocks are a staple article in the 
northwest, and are regularly quoted in the wholesale 
price-lists. The price is still considerably higher than 
for Myrobalan, Marianna or peach stocks, but seldom 
exceeds ten dollars a thousand. Some correspondents 
in the northwest recommend Mner stocks ; but I doubt 
if these can be distinguished from Americanas. 

Chicasazv stocks. — Seedlings and suckers of the 
Chicasaw species have been used for stocks, though 
never on a large scale. They are supposed to be es- 
pecially adapted to low, wet lands, or where an annual 
overflow is to be expected. The serious objection to 
them is their tendency to sprout. 

The western dwarf form of this species (Pruniis 
angustifoUa ivatsoni) has been recommended time and 
again for trial as a stock; but though I have known of 
various experiments undertaken, I never heard of one 
so far finished as to give a fair idea of the advantages 
and drawbacks of this plum as a stock. It would prob- 



The Propagation of Plums 247 

ably dwarf the trees worked on it; and would probably 
be subject to the same difficulty of sprouting mentioned 
in connection with the Chicasaws proper. 

JVayland seedlings.— Mr. J. W. Kerr has experi- 
mented somewhat extensively with seedlings of the 
Wayland group, and finds them to have several mate- 
rial good points as stocks. The stocks never sucker. 
They unite most satisfactorily with all varieties of the 
Wildgoose, Wayland and Chicasaw groups; and also 
with those of the Miner and Americana groups. Mr. 
Kerr thinks this is "the best general stock^' that he has 
ever tried. The serious difficulty is in getting the 
stocks. Wayland, Golden Beauty and all their rela- 
tives refuse absolutely to grow from cuttings, they do 
not sucker, and the seeds are hard to get. They are 
not in the market, and every man has to depend on 
what he can gather in his orchard. This makes them 
out of the question as a commercial stock, but they are 
worth recommending to plum amateurs. 

Paeific plum.— The Pacific plum, Prnnus snb- 
cordafa, has been tested as a stock in California, but 
has not been found to show important good qualities. 
It dwarfs the scion and is inclined to sucker. 

Sand eherry.— Many experiments have been made 
with the western sand cherry. Primus piimila besseyi, 
especially in Iowa, South Dakota and Minnesota. 
Some fair degree of success is reported by Professors 
Budd, Hansen and Craig, by Mr. J. S. Harris, and 
others. Budd found that all classes of plums, includ- 
ing the Domesticas and Japanese, united with this 
stock. The best success was secured when the stocks 
were budded, though a fair proportion of the scions 
grew when whip-grafted or side-grafted. (See Iowa 
Hort. Soc. Trans. 28:404. 1893.) This stock dwarfs 
the plum, more or less, and is sometimes inclined to 



24B Plums and Plum Culture 

sprout. It is, however, very hardy and easy to grow 
in a small way, so that experiments in its use are likely 
to be continued. 

Other stocks. — The Japanese plums have been 
tried in a few cases, and have given fair success. There 
is every reason to believe that seedlings of the Japanese 
plums would give as good results as the peach, or bet- 
ter. The trouble is that the seed has never yet been 
plenty enough to be tried extensively. I have seen 
scions of all sorts top-worked in Japanese trees. Usu- 
ally a good union is secured and a satisfactory growth 
made, though the Japanese trees frequently overgrow 
other varieties, and the abundant sap sometimes 
''drowns" a slow-starting scion. 

The common choke-cherry has been experimented 
with to some extent. Buds of plum can be made to 
take on it, but I never heard of a tree which came to 
maturity on this stock. 

In like manner, buds will take on the common 
black cherry, Primus serotina; but they do not live 
long. I have known them to survive two years, but 
never to make trees. 

SUMMARY 

The matter of propagation of plums may be briefly 
summarized as follows, it being fully understood that 
this condensed recapitulation overlooks many impor- 
tant exceptions. 

As regards stocks. — Horse plum : For Domesticas and 
Damsons in New York. 

St. Julien : Makes best trees of Domesticas and Dam- 
sons for northern orchards, but is not used by the nurs- 
erymen on account of expense incurred and small size 
of nursery trees. 

Myrobalan : Most popular general stock in northern and 
central states. For all sorts of plums. 



The Propagation of Plums . 249 

Marianna: Good general stock for central and southern 
states. For all sorts of plums, except Americanas. 

Peach: Cheap and easy to handle. Good for light soils 
and southern localities. 

Apricot: Much like peach, but not often used. 

Americana plum : Best for Americanas. Best for all plums 
at the northwest, except Domesticas, and perhaps more widely 
useful than is yet known. 

Chicasaw plum : For wet soils, southward. Sprouts. 

Wayland-like plums: Good general stock, but difficult 
to get. 

Pacific plum : Not promising. Sprouts. 

Sand cherry : Promising for the northwest. 

Other stocks : Have some experimental interest, but no 
demonstrated practical value. 

As regards scions. — Domesticas : Make best trees on St. 
Julien or Horse plum, but can be more cheaply grown on 
Myrobalan. Will grow also on Marianna. 

Damsons : Same as Domesticas. 

Myrobalan plums : Can usually be grown from cuttings 
or on their own roots. When grafted or budded should be 
worked on Marianna or on Myrobalan roots. 

Japanese : Succeed well on peach for southern states. For 
northern states are usually worked on Myrobalan. Marianna 
also often used. 

Simon plum: On peach, Myrobalan or Marianna, in this 
order. 

Americanas : Best on Americanas or own roots, especially 
at the northwest, where this stock is indispensable. Can be 
worked on Wayland or Marianna. 

Miners: About the same as Americana in their require- 
ments. 

Waylands : Probably best on Wayland seedlings. Will do 
well on Marianna, Myrobalan or peach. 

Wildgoose : Works well on peach for the south and for 
light soils. Marianna also used in the south. Northward 
mostly worked on Myrobalan. 

Chicasaws: On peach, Marianna or Myrobalan, in this 
order. 

Sand plums: Try Myrobalan first. 

Ornamental varieties : Work these on various stocks, de- 
pending on the species from which they are severally derived. 

As regards locality. — Quebec, northern New England and 
adjacent territory: Use Americana stocks. Where the Do- 
mesticas are grown St. Julien or Horse plum may be used. 



250 Plums and Plum Culture 

IManitoba, Minnesota, the Dakotas, Wisconsin, Iowa and 
adjacent territory: Use Americanas and Sand cherry. 

Southern New England, New York, Pennsylvania and 
Ohio : Use St. Jiilien for Domesticas and Damsons whenever 
possible. In other cases use Myrobalan. 

Indiana, southern Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and southern 
Colorado: Use Myrobalan or Marianna, or Peach on light 
soils, or for Japanese varieties. 

From Maryland to southern Colorado and southward : 
Use peach, Marianna or Myrobalan, according to cost of 
propagation. 




XXIX 

The Selection of Varieties 



I5f^^ 


^^jg**l 


I 


1 


|H 



F a stranger were to write to 
me and ask me to select a wife 
for him, I should be somewhat 
embarrassed by the request. 
Yet the problem would be only 
a little more difftcLilt than the 
one which is constantly pre- 
sented to the experiment sta- 
tion officer, or the specialist, 
who is almost daily in receipt of letters asking for a 
selection of varieties of strawberries or plums. 

The fact is, the best varieties for any man are the 
ones which do best for him. This nobody can dis- 
cover but himself. Often the varieties which do best 
are simply those which he likes best. He takes most 
interest in them. He cares most for them. He gives 
them better culture, — which is saying the same 
thing, — and they succeed accordingly. 

The selection of varieties is very largely a per- 

251 



252 Plums and Plum Culture 

sonal matter. It depends more on the person than it 
does on the variety. Still, it does depend partly on the 
variety; and there are, therefore, two different things 
to be taken into consideration in making a choice. 
The qualities of the variety must be considered; but 
one must consider first the qualities of the man who 
is going to grow it. I would consider the qualities of 
the man as well as the characteristics of the woman if 
I were selecting a wife for some confiding client. 

In making a selection of plums, the personal 
prejudices of the grower are apt to be more cogent and 
are likely to assert a greater influence in the result 
than in dealing with any other class of fruits. There 
are men who believe that there is no salvation outside 
the Japanese plums. It would be foolishness for them 
to plant Americanas. Other men think that the Do- 
mesticas are the only civilized plums, and that ''the na- 
tives will do very well in sections where the European 
varieties cannot be grown." Such men should grow 
Lombard and Gueii. Still another man will shrug his 
shoulders and say that ^'American plums are good 
enough for America." Let him take my blessing and 
a parcel of De Sotos and Quakers and go on to suc- 
cess. The author believes in all sorts of plums. He 
has his prejudices, too; but that is his private affair. 

Due consideration must also be given to the fact 
that local adaptation is a matter of grave importance 
with all fruits, and more so with plums than with 
anything else handled by the American horticulturist. 
Domesticas will not succeed on the eastern shore of 
Maryland, no matter what the prejudices of the grower. 
The Chicasaws cannot be recommended for Quebec. 
The Americanas are conspicuous failures in most parts 
of the south. And in western New York, where they 
grow the finest Domesticas on this continent, it is 
wonderful what worthlessness the natives will develop. 



The Selection of Varieties 253 

These questions of local adaptation have been closely 
studied in the last ten years, and the adjustment of 
varieties to localities is rapidly advancing. There is, 
of course, much yet to be done; but much of the rough 
work has been executed. 

In the following pages a large list of selections 
will be offered. Some of them are made on the 
authority of the writer; others rest on the experience 
of the best plum growers in all parts of the land. All 
of them, however, are presented subject to the qualifi- 
cations already made, which may be briefly reviewed 
in saying that the selection of varieties rests upon three 
separate considerations : First, local or geographical 
adaptation ; second, personal preferences of the 
grower ; third, intrinsic qualities of the variety. 

MARKET VARIETIES 

We will consider first the selection of varieties for 
market. It will be understood that, in making market 
plantings, a smaller number of varieties are to be 
chosen, and that good looks and shipping qualities are 
supremely important. Furthermore, certain markets 
call for certain varieties. In some places Damsons 
are in demand. In other places Green Gages are 
wanted. But in general it may be said that the de- 
mands of the market may be ignored to a very great 
extent in selecting plums, especially if the market be 
a small one which can be pretty thoroughly covered by 
the grower. Very. few fruit buyers know anything 
about plums. They ask for Damsons or for "blue 
plums" because they know of nothing else. If any 
good variety is offered to them, year after year, they 
soon take up with it. I know a grower whose trees 
were mostly Lombard. Presently he had some De 
Sotos come into bearing. The first year he had to give 



254 Plums and Plum Culture 

away the De Sotos; but the second year his customers 
took them in preference to the Lombards. This ex- 
perience has been dupHcated hundreds of times. 

Let us now take up the selection of varieties by 
geographical districts. 

Noz'a Scotia and adjacent territory. — Domesticas 
are mostly grown. Japanese varieties are being intro- 
duced, and are mostly successful. In choosing partic- 
ular varieties, one may select those generally recom- 
mended in western New York and Michigan. 

Quebec, Northern Ontario, Northern Maine, New 
Hampshire and Vermont. — The Americanas and Nigras 
are best here. Some new Domesticas and Japanese va- 
rieties are grown experimentally, or are fairly success- 
ful in the less inclement locations. Specially suitable 
varieties are De Soto, Hawkeye, Cheney, Quaker and 
Wolf. The best Americana or Nigra varieties, how- 
ever, may be planted without the slightest hesitation. 

W. T. Macoiin, horticulturist at the Dominion experimen- 
tal farms, Ottawa, recommends Cheney, Wolf, Stoddard and 
Wyant. 

Nezv England in general. — Domesticas, Japanese 
varieties and Americanas all succeed here. Wild- 
goose, Pottawattamie, Wayland, and many other sorts 
of other groups have proved locally successful. Lom- 
bard is one of the best paying Domesticas. Damsons 
also market well. The best of the Japanese for mar- 
ket are Abundance, Burbank, Red June and Chabot. 
These succeed over almost the whole of this section. 
The varieties recommended by the American Pomo- 
logical society* are the same as those recommended 
for New York, which see. 



*The recommendations quoted in this chapter are from the Revised 
Catalog of Fruits of the American Pomological Society, Division of 
Pomology, Bulletin No. 8, 1899. 



The Selection of Varieties 255 

A. A. Halladay, southern Vermont, recommends Burbank, 
Abundance, Lombard, Red June. 

D. C. Hicks, southern Vermont, recommends Lombard, 
Bradshaw, Pond, Gueii, Shropshire, Jefferson, Quackenboss, 
Grand Duke. 

Professor S. T. Maynard, central Massachusetts, recom- 
mends Bradshaw, Gueii, Kingston, German Prune, Wildgoose, 
Abundance, Burbank. 

H. L. Fairchild, Connecticut, recommends Burbank, Sat- 
suma, Red June, Chabot, Abundance. 

Nezv York, Northern Ohio, Southern Ontario, 
Southern Michigan and Central Pennsylvania. — The 
Domesticas rule here. The Japanese varieties, how- 
ever, are successfully grown by numerous adherents. 
The list of varieties specially recommended for market 
by the American Pomological society are Bavay, Brad- 
shaw, Damson (sic !) , Diamond, German Prune, Grand 
Duke, Gueii. Imperial Gage, Italian Prune, Kingston, 
Lombard, Quackenboss, Yellow Egg, Abundance, 
Burbank, Chabot, Red June. 

S. D. Willard, Geneva, New York, an extensive grower of 
plums for market, recommends Bavay, Grand Duke, Arch 
Duke, Monarch, Diamond, French Damson, Red June, 
Burbank. 

W. & T. Smith Co., Geneva, New York, large growers of 
plums, recommend Golden Drop, Bavay, Pond, Burbank, Dia- 
mond, Quackenboss, Shropshire, Italian Prune. 

C. E. Hunn, Cornell Experiment station, gives the follow- 
ing list : Bavay, Lombard, Shipper, German Prune, Red June, 
Abundance, Burbank. 

S. A. Beach, experiment station, Geneva, New York, "sug- 
gests for consideration" the following: Early Rivers, Brad- 
shaw, Diamond, Hudson, Italian Prune, French Damson, 
Monarch, Grand Duke, Copper, Bavay, Czar, Gueii, Burbank. 

W. Paddock, experiment station, Geneva, recommends 
Bavay, Field, Hudson, Bradshaw, Italian Prune, Diamond, 
King of Damsons. 

Professor George C. Butz, State College, Pennsylvania, 
gives the following list : German Prune, Green Gage, Arctic, 
Lombard, Damson. 

Professor L. R. Taft, southern Michigan, recommends 
Field, Bradshaw, Lombard, Gueii, Grand Duke, Diamond, 



256 Plums and Plum Culture 

Monarch, Golden Drop, Bavay, Burbank, Abundance, Red 
June and Wickson. 

Wisconsin, Minnesota^ Manitoba, Montana, the Da- 
kotas, Iowa and Northern Nebraska and Colorado. — This 
section is almost exclusive in its adoption of the 
Americanas. Nearly all the varieties of this group 
succeed in this section. Miner does well with some 
growers, but practically all the plums grown for mar- 
ket, — and the quantity is large, — are of the Ameri- 
canas native to that soil. 

Canvassing the votes recently taken of the leading 
plum specialists of this region, we have the following 
result, the number set opposite each variety being the 
number of times it was mentioned out of twenty votes: 

De Soto 13 Stoddard 5 

Wyant 12 Rollingstone 4 

Wolf 10 Surprise 4 

Hawkeye 9 Aitken 3 

Forest Garden 8 Cheney 3 

Miner 6 Hunt 3 

This list may be looked on as the best possible 
general recommendation of market plums for the 
northwest. 

In southern Iowa and Nebraska, Wildgoose and 
Pottawattamie are very generally recommended as 
market plums. 

Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and 
Colorado. — This area varies considerably in soils, and 
there is no well-defined area of plum culture. 
Opinions resfarding varieties for market are therefore 
much diversified. A few may be quoted. 

Professor J, Troop, Indiana Experiment station, names 
Wildgoose, Wolf, Damson, Shipper, Bradshaw, Lombard, 
Burbank. 

L. A. Goodman, Westport, Mo., secretary of the Missouri 
Horticultural society, recommends Wildgoose, Weaver, 
Abundance, Burbank, Damson, Lombard. 



The Selection of Varieties 257 

Frank Holsinger, eastern Kansas, who grows many plums 
for the Kansas City market, recommends Pottawattamie, Wild- 
goose, Wickson, Weaver. Red June, Wolf. 

E. P. Bernardin, southeastern Kansas, prefers Wildgoose, 
Miner, Pottawattamie. 

R. Bradley, central Kansas, grows Abundance, Burbank, 
Wickson, Red June, Wildgoose, Pottawattamie, Milton. 

The preponderance of Wildgoose and its kin in 
these lists is striking. It may be recalled that this is 
the home of the Wildgoose. This variety, with its 
near relatives, and some of its new hybrid progeny, 
may be safely recommended as the best market plums 
for this section. 

Maryland, Virginia and adjacent territory. — The 
Japanese varieties have been largely tested in this sec- 
tion, and a number of market growers have been suc- 
cessful with them. Most of the Japanese varieties, 
however, are very badly afifected with the fruit rot 
here, and have been discarded from many orchards on 
that account. Native sorts, particularly of the Wild- 
goose, Chicasaw and Wayland groups, do very well, 
but the local markets do not seem to be so hospitable 
to the fruit as might be wished. 

J. W. Kerr recommends for the eastern shore of Maryland 
the following list : Milton, Munson, Whitaker, Smiley, Dunlap, 
Newman, Roulette, Downing, Clifford. Cluck, Sophie, Wooten, 
Beaty, Lonestar, Prairie Flower. Idall, Indiana. 

H. E. Van Deman of the maritime counties of Virginia 
recommends Whitaker, Milton, Newman, Abundance, Bur- 
bank, Wickson, Golden Beauty. 

J. S. Breece, Fayetteville, N. C, names Ogon, Abundance 
and Chabot. 

Georgia, Tennessee, Oklahoma and southward. — 
In this section the Domesticas and Amerlcanas, with a 
few exceptions, are total failures. The Japanese plums 
have been widely tested and are extensively grown by 
some persons. The Wildgoose, Chicasaw and Way- 
17 



2 53 Plums and Plum Culture 

land varieties are entirely at home, and furnish the 
real basis of the commercial plum interests. Many 
hybrids are appearing in this section; and especially 
those of Chicasaw, Wildgoose and Japanese blend- 
ings seem to be of peculiar promise here. Gonzales, 
Excelsior, and Golden are worthy of special mention. 
The following recommendations from growers and ex- 
perimenters of experience should be carefully con- 
sidered. 

A. L. Qnaintance, Georgia Experiment station, recom- 
mends Wildgoose, Wayland, De Caradeuc, Abundance, Bur- 
bank, Red June. 

G. L. Taber, Glen St. Mary, Fla., specially recommends 
Excelsior and names after that the Japanese varieties, Bur- 
bank, Abundance, Kelsey and Berckmans, 

Professor F. S. Earle, northern Alabama, names Red 
June, Abundance, Burbank, Chabot, Wayland and Golden 
Beauty, "the last two for southern markets only." 

O. M. Morris, horticulturist of the Oklahoma Experiment 
station, recommends Wildgoose, Weaver, Wooten, Pottawat- 
tamie and Golden Beauty. 

T. V. Munson, northern Texas, an expert pomologist of 
wide reputation, recommends Milton, Clifford, Abundance, 
Burbank, Chabot, Miner. 

F. T. Ramsey, central Texas, names Gonzales, McCartney, 
Hale, America, Apple, Captain, El Paso, Fanning, Indian 
Chief, Lonestar, Mason, Robinson, Wildgoose, Wooten, Wick- 
son, Chabot, Burbank, Arkansas. 

VARIKTIKS FOR HOME USE 

It is a generally accepted principle among po- 
niologists that, in selecting varieties for home use, 
the grower may exercise his personal preferences to a 
much greater degree, that he may make a longer list, 
and that he may include many varieties of less thrift 
and prolificacy than could be admitted to a commercial 
orchard. This means, in a general way, that the lists 
given above may be merely expanded somewhat ac- 
cording to individual tastes; but that the market list 
may nevertheless serve as a safe basis for making up 
the home-use list. 



26o Plums and Plum Culture 

Everyone will see the danger of making a general 
recommendation of any varieties for the home garden 
where so much depends on personal preferences. Yet 
the man who is totally unacquainted with varieties 
must perforce depend on the judgment of some one 
else to make his first selection for him. To meet the 
wishes of this class of planters, the author will present, 
in the next few pages, a number of specific sugges- 
tions for planting home plum orchards. The arrange- 
ment of the trees in the plots is also shown, consider- 
ation being given to the matter of pollination. The 
selections offered are intended to give as great a va- 
riety as po'ssible, both in character of the fruit and in 
season. They have been made after careful study of 
all the conditions, and after consultation with the best 
plum growers in each region. 

It must be understood that these are only sugges- 
tions. They are not prescriptio^is. They are for the 
use of the novice; and the man who is acquainted with 
other varieties which he prefers to those recommended 
should follow his own preferences. 



k k k I I 

Suggestion for a home orchard of twenty-five trees in New 
England. The same selection and grouping would be 
recommended for Nova Scotia. 

o, 3 Lombard; b, 2 Bavay; c, 2 Pond; d, i Shropshire; 
c, 2 Jefferson; /, 2 De Soto; g, 2 Hawkeye ; h, 2 Cheney; i, 2 
Abundance ; ;, 2 Chabot ; k, 3 Burbank ; I, 2 Red June. 



The Selection of Varieties 261 



Suggestion for a home orchard of twenty-five trees in New 
York, southern Michigan or adjacent territory. 

a, 3 Bavay ; b, 2 Peters ; c, 3 Jefferson ; d, 2 Washington ; 
e, 3 Italian Prune; /, 2 Victoria; g, 3 Red June; h, 2 Pond; 
i, 2 Satsuma; ;', 2 Burbank; k, i Shropshire. 



Suggestion for a home orchard of twenty-five trees in northern 
Iowa and northward. Approximately the same plan might 
be followed in the colder parts of Quebec, Ontario and 
adjoining territory. 

a, 3 Stoddard ; b, 2 Quaker ; c, 2 Bixby ; d, 2 Surprise ; e, 
2 Aitken ; /, 2 Cheney ; g, 2 De Soto ; h, 2 Hawkeye ; i, 2 Wyant : 
J, 2 Snooks; k^ 2 Wolf; /, 2 Forest Garden. 



z62 Plums and Plum Culture 



Suggestion for a home orchard of twenty-five trees on the 
Maryland-Delaware peninsula or in adjoining states. 

a, 2 Wayland; b, 2 Benson; c, 2 Kanawha; d, 2 Prairie 
Flower ; e, 2 American Eagle ; /, 2 Dunlap ; g, i Smith ; h, 2 
Whitaker; i, 2 Munson; ;, 2 Milton; k, 2 Kerr; /, 2 Abun- 
dance; m, 2 Chabot. 



1 1 j m m 

Suggestion for a home orchard of twenty-five trees for Ken- 
tucky, Tennessee, Indiana, southern Illinois, Missouri. 
Kansas, and the neighboring territory. 

a, 2 Wayland ; h, i Miner ; c, 2 Wyant ; d, 2 Quaker ; e, 2 
Smith ; f, 2 Wildgoose ; g, 2 Golden ; h, 2 Milton ; i, 2 Gonzales ; 
j, 2 Red June; k, 2 Pottawattamie; /, 2 Abundance; m, 2 
Burbank. 



The Selection of Varieties 263 

a a a b b 

c c c d d 

e e e f f 

g g g h h 



Suggestion for a home orchard of twenty-five trees for Florida, 
Alabama, Mississippi or Louisiana. 

a, 3 Excelsior; h, 2 Wayland; c, 3 Gonzales; d, 2 Golden 
Beauty; e, 3 America; /, 2 Wildgoose; g, 3 Red June; h. 2 
Abundance; i, 3 Kelsey; ;, 2 Chabot. 



d d 



f f 



g g g 



Suggestion for a home orchard of twenty-five trees 'for Texas, 
Arkansas or Oklahoma. 

a, 3 Gonzales; h, 2 America; c, 3 Milton; d, 2 Wooten; 
e, 3 Mississippi; f, 2 Chabot; g, 3 Abundance; h, 2 Red June; 
I, 3 Wayland; ;', 2 Golden Beauty. 

It may be repeated that the foregoing plots of 
pinm gardens are only suggestions, and that they are 



264 Plums and Plum Culture 

made only for the beginner. As soon as a man begins 
the cultivation of plums, he should plant a small ex- 
perimental plot and put into it as many of the prom- 
ising better sorts as his means and inclinations may 
provide. From this experimental planting he will be 
able presently to select the varieties which he wants 
to grow more extensively. From this experimental 
planting, too, he is likely to reap many other benefits. 
He will develop a greater love for the plums, and so a 
greater proficiency in their culture; and he will be in- 
troduced to all the engaging and elevating reflections 
of the amateur pomologist, — the true fruit-lover. 




XXX 

Orchard and Garden Management 



HEN Henry Ward Beecher was 
ilMj \/\/ I editor of a column of horticul- 

clH V V i tural notes in the Western 

Farmer and Gardener of 
Indianapolis, Indiana, — that is 
to say, about the year 1850, — 
he wrote these words: *'A 
few plum trees will sufftce for 
a private family, and the fruit 
must be earned by careful watchfulness. . . Plum 
orchards are not to be thought of." 

Nevertheless, extensive plum orchards are now 
fruiting in many parts of North America,— on the Pa- 
cific coast, in Texas, Iowa, New York, Ontario. Many 
more are being planted. The management of plums 
in orchard plantations has therefore become an 
important branch of con4:emporary horticultural 
knowledge. 

265 




Orchard and Garden Management 267 

The plum is also a garden tree, and pecuHarly 
suited to the small home fruit garden, either on the 
city lot or in the farmyard. Plum trees in the garden, 
however, demand precisely the same treatment that 
they do in large orchards. The following discussion 
applies equally to the two series of conditions. 

Soils. — Plums will not grow on solid rock, but 
they will succeed on any kind of soil. Professor Bailey 
has remarked that, next to the apple, the European 
plum, Prunus domestica, has probably the most gen- 
eralized adaptability to all sorts of soils of any known 
tree. Then when we take into account the Japanese 
plums and all the various American species with their 
wide diversities of adaptation, we have a selection of 
plants to cover the whole range of soils. 

The Domestica and Damson plums are generally 
said to grow best on rather heavy clay loam; at least 
they do not do their best on light, sandy soils. A 
heavy clay loam need not be wet and cold ; and if it 
is well drained and comparatively warm, it forms an 
ideal soil for the European races of plums. 

The Japanese plums prefer rather lighter soils. 
A light, warm, friable loam, with a moderate admixture 
of sand, suits them best. They will do well, how- 
ever, on soil which is decidedly sandy. 

The Americana plum.s need about the same soil 
as the Domesticas. A rich, heavy loam is much the 
best for them, though a moderate amount of sand 
does not interfere with their thrifty growth in favor- 
able climates. 

Varieties of the Miner group have the same needs 
as the Americanas. 

Wayland and its near relatives prefer lighter soils. 
They thrive in Mr. Kerr's Maryland sand pile, but gen- 
erally do better in soils containing more clay. A Hght, 
warm, sandy loam may be regarded as their preference. 



268 Plums and Plum Culture 

Wildgoose and the varieties of closest relationship 
have a wide range of adaptability to differing soils, 
but may be regarded as most at home on rich, sandy 
lowlands. Cold, heavy clay is distasteful to them. In 
general they do not reach perfection in those localities 
where the European varieties are most successful. 

The Chicasaws have much the same preferences 
as the Wildgoose varieties. They are said to do well 
on low, wet land, where they are subject to annual 
overflows, but I do not know of anyone who has tested 
this point in orchard planting.' 

The hybrid varieties, which will probably be of 
increasing importance, must be treated in view of 
their individual affinities. Those which partake most 
of the Japanese characters may be managed like the 
Japanese plums; and those which are more Wild- 
goose-like should have the treatment of the Wild- 
goose plums. 

Exposures. — All other conditions being satisfac- 
tory, the plum orchard should have a southeastern ex- 
posure, — that is, the field may slope more or less 
toward the southeast. A southwestern exposure is 
not desirable except on cold, backward soils. If late 
frosts are a source of danger, a northeastern or north- 
western exposure may be better, as these will retard 
the blossoming more or less in the spring. The Jap- 
anese varieties, being specially early bloomers, require 
most consideration in this respect. Still, my observa- 
tion leads me to believe that the danger from late 
spring frosts is not so great a factor in plum culture as 
it is often felt to be. 

Drainage. — Plum trees respond as quickly as any 
other plants to an improved mechanical condition of 
the soil. Any soil, therefore, which will be improved 
by drainage, — aad there are thousands of acres of such 
soil, — should be drained for plum trees. The fact 



Orchard and Garden Management 269 

that the Domestica plums like a heavy clay does not 
mean that they like a damp, cold, clammy soil, in 
which the necessary transformations of plant food go 
on feebly and ineffectively. And the notion that the 
Chicasaw plums like low, wet land should not be 
relied on too far when drainage is being considered. 

The purpose of drainage, especially underdrain- 
age, is to make the soil drier and warmer during wet 
weather, and cooler and moister during drouth. Such 
amelioration is in no wise unsuited to plum trees of 
any species. On the contrary, they will pay as well 
for that kind of treatment as any other crop. 

Planting. — The selection of varieties naturally de- 
mands first attention ; but this is a matter of such im- 
portance and one involving so many considerations, 
that a separate chapter is devoted to it. In general, it 
may be said that two-year-old trees should be selected 
for planting. Sometimes three-year-old stock, partic- 
ularly of slow-growing sorts, is satisfactory. Occa- 
sionally one finds southern-grown trees of Japanese 
and certain native varieties which are fit to plant at 
one year old. Such young stock handles and ships 
cheaply, but is not to be generally recommended. 

In buying plum trees, more than the usual amount 
of attention has to be given to the stocks on which 
they are propagated. This subject is fully discussed 
in the chapter on propagation. It is not always that 
the planter can secure just the stocks desired, but if 
he would make his w^ants more evident to the nurs- 
eryman, — and back them up with the cash! — there 
would be less and less difficulty on this score. 

The question of whether it is better to buy of lo- 
cal or of distant nurseries is one often discussed, but 
of no practical importance. Buy trees by quality first 
and by price second. At the Vermont Experiment 
station we have planted young plum trees from Can- 



270 Plums and Plum Culture 

ada, New Vork, Iowa, Maryland and Texas. They 
have done equally well, — or, if there has been any 
difference, it has been against the northern-grown 
trees, which is quite contrary to the common preju- 
dice. 

The distance apart for planting plum trees varies 
somewhat for soils and localities, and greatly for the 
varieties to be set. Abundance, for instance, may be 
set ten feet apart, while Burbank should have twice 
as much space. Domestica varieties in rich ground 
require eighteen to twenty feet, but if kept closely 
pruned, may be set a little closer. For a mixed 
orchard, twelve to fifteen feet may be regarded as the 
proper planting distance. If spraying with a mounted 
sprayer is to be a part of the orchard operations, the 
distance must be increased to twenty or even to twenty- 
five feet. 

Fall and spring planting are often contrasted and 
their special advantages discussed. Nobody can say 
which is the better, because either is or neither is. It 
depends on the locality, season, condition of the soil, 
condition of. the trees, and on other circumstances. 
If the soil is well prepared, and the trees are ripe and 
ready, they may be set in the fall. If they are 
not, the trees should be stored or well heeled-in till 
spring opens. 

Varieties should be mixed in planting with ref- 
erence to cross-pollination. This subject is judged to 
be of sufficient importance and complication to de- 
mand a separate chapter. 

CitUivation. — The plum orchard should have the 
same cultivation as the apple orchard. Horticulturists 
are thoroughly agreed on this point. They are prac- 
tically agreed also that this means a general plowing in 
spring, with clean surface culture till the middle of 
July or first of August, and a cover crop for fall. The 



Orchard and Garden Management 271 

spring plowing should be given as soon as the ground 
can be worked to advantage, and, though it need 
not be deep, should be as thorough as the conditions 
w^ill permit. 

The summer surface culture is important. For 
this purpose a sharp-toothed harrow is the most use- 
ful tool. I know one man, who is very successful in 
the garden culture of plums, who uses a garden rake 
by hand. Another friend tells of visiting this plum 
grower one day, and of seeing the cat run through the 
garden, whereupon the plum man seized the garden 
rake and followed after to rake up the cat tracks. 
This man makes money from his plums. 

vSoil and locality determine which is the best cover 
crop. For sandy soils in the south, cowpeas and 
crimson clover are best. For northern states and 
heavier soils, mammoth clover, peas, rye or buckwheat 
are to be preferred, about in the order named. These 
cover crops should be sown about July 15th to 
August 1st, when the weather is most favorable. An 
abundance of seed should be provided. A scant 
cover is a much more frequent mistake than a too 
heavy cover. 

On the general subject of cultivation I wish to 
quote a letter from the well-known plum specialist, 
Professor E. S. Goff of Wisconsin. He says: 'The 
orchard should not be seeded to grass, but an occa- 
sional crop of clover will be beneficial for most soils. 
I prefer to cultivate the ground till midsummer at 
least, without growing a crop. Then I would sow 
oats, clover, or cowpeas. If the trees are too close to 
admit of horse cultivation, the whole ground may be 
mulched with good results." 

J. W. Kerr recommends for Maryland ''thorough 
tillage from May ist to August ist; then seed to crim- 
son clover to plow in first of May subsequent." 



272 Plums and Plum Culture 

Professor F. S. Earle says: "In Alabama plums 
demand precisely the same treatment as peaches." 

Irrigation. — In some of the states this side of the 
Rocky mountains, and in most of those on the other 
side of the divide, irrigation is common in orchards. 
It is not possible to discuss here all the prmciples and 
practices of irrigation; but we may take note that irri- 
gation in the plum orchard is much the same as in the 
apple orchard or among any other growing trees. Irri- 
gation is practiced during the early part of the season 
and remitted after midsummer, just as cultivation is. 
Irrigation serves the same purpose as cultivation. It 
is intended to furnish water to the growing plant and 
to aid in the solution of plant food. 

The commonest method of applying water to 
orchard trees is by the furrow system. A clean, even 
furrow is run on either side of a row of fruit trees, fol- 
lowing the slope of the land, and the water is turned 
into these furrows. Often the tree rows are planted 
following the general slope in order to facilitate this 
work. After the water is turned ofif, and as soon as 
it has been sufificientl}^ absorbed, cultivation is given. 
Special care is taken to cover in the furrows which 
have been lately soaked with water. This is to pre- 
vent the formation of a hard surface crust and the 
consequent rapid evaporation of the moisture. Irri- 
gation, however, is a complicated matter; and persons 
who are new to it would better consult some special 
work on the subject. 

Pruning. — Plum trees do not generally require so 
much pruning as apple trees. Most of the varieties 
of the Domestica race make fairly good heads of their 
own accord, and these need only to have occasional 
branches removed to keep the tops from getting too 
thick. The native sorts, like Wildgoose, Marianna 
and most of the Americanas, naturally make very 



(274 Plums and Plum Culture 

dense, thick, thorny heads, into which it is sometimes 
difficult for a picker to penetrate. Nevertheless, se- 
vere pruning of these varieties is seldom practiced. 
They do not seem to respond v^^ell to it. I do not 
know a single grower who prunes his native plum 
trees so severely as apple trees are habitually pruned. 
The idea seems to prevail that the less one can get 
along with the better. This has not been so much 
the subject of careful experiment as it ought to be; but 
the author feels constrained to give his advice in sup- 
port of this common feeling. Of course, broken, split- 
ting, and interfering branches should always be re- 
moved, and just as early as possible. 

Certain native varieties grow in very poor forms. 
The trees are crooked, straggling or ungainly. Such 
habits must be corrected as much as possible by prun- 
ing, depending in each case on the peculiarities 
of the variety. It is to be expected that, in the 
evolution of plum culture with the native varieties, 
those sorts of ugly growth will be eventually elim- 
inated. It has been so with apples, even though the 
reason and the opportunity for it are much less than 
with plums. 

A few very rank and sprawling growers, like Bur- 
bank, demand severe heading-in every year. I have 
often seen Burbank trees bearing loads of fruit and 
making an annual growth of six feet, or in some cases 
even more. The best growers that I know cut 
back this annual growth from one-half to three-fourths. 
It will be seen that even with this cutting back, the 
trees will sometimes get beyond bounds. If they do 
not, they will still be filled with the spurs and stumps 
left by the knife and saw. It would seem desirable, 
therefore, with such varieties as Burbank, to adopt 
some renewal method of pruning as is practiced with 
grapevines. This seems entirely feasible, though I 



275 




NURSERY PLUM TREES 

Marked to show how they should be cut back when planted 

Sophie at the left, Georgeson at the right 



276 



Plums and Plum Culture 




ought to add that I know of no one who has yet 
tested it. 

This brings up the whole subject of cutting back. 
Some growers of ItaUan Prune and similar Domestica 
varieties, particularly in 
Michigan and New 
York, have contended 
that the proper manage- 
ment of these trees 
demanded close heading- 
in. One may find num- 
bers of orchards which 
have been treated in this 
way for a period of 
years. It must be said 
that the method has 
never proven so much 
better than the usual 
one as to convince 
everybody of its superior 
value. It has its advan- 
tages. The trees are 
maintained within a 
more manageable com- 
pass. They are easier 
to spray. The fruit is 
easier to pick. More 
trees can be liandkd on an acre. Still, the thrift of the 
trees seems to be impaired in some cases after a few 
years, and some growers say that smaller crops are 
realized. It is really a matter of local and personal 
practice. It cannot be determined by rule. If a man 
finds that heading-in is best for him on his farm, he 
should practice heading-in. If another man learns 
by experience that it is better under his conditions to 
let the trees take more their natural form, he should 



PLUM TREE (Miner type) 
Two years old 



Orchard and Garden Management 277 

let them do so. And the two men should not quarrel 
over their methods. Both are right. The writer 
would not for himself practice heading-in with any 
except some of the too luxuriant-growing varieties 
of the Japanese class and their hybrids. 

Pruning should be done as early in spring as pos- 
sible, before the sap starts. Summer pinching is a 
good thing, theoretically, but I do not know of anyone 
who does it on a scale large enough to prove its gen- 
eral value. The use of the pruning knife and saw on 
plum trees should be governed by the same princi- 
ples and by the same good, practical judgment which 
furnish the basis for successful pruning everywhere. 
It must be remembered, however, that some varieties 
of the plum, especially those of the Japanese class, are 
subject to exudations of gum, which at times are detri- 
mental to the health of the tree. On this account 
large wounds are especially to be avoided. Severe 
wounds should always be covered with grafting wax 
for the same reason. 

The formation of a suitable head on a young tree is 
a matter of some difficulty, especially with the Ameri- 
canas, and with some other of the native species. The 
best way to begin is to select only clean, strong, two- 
year-old trees with good roots, and to plant these with 
much care, to the end that they make a vigorous, clean 
growth during the first few years. If a tree becomes 
stunted when first set out, the head is almost sure to 
be bad. The best way to do with Americanas and 
some other related sorts is to cut them back nearly to 
the ground (being careful, of course, not to get below 
the inserted bud), and to allow a new shoot to grow. 
This can be kept straight, and can be cut back for the 
top whenever desired. Time will be gained in this 
way if the tree really promises at the outset to be 
refractory. 



278 Plums and Plum Culture 

The several species, and the varieties of the same 
species even, differ so much in habit of growth, how- 
ever, that it is impossible to give any general direc- 
tions of much value as to the best methods of pruning 
or of forming heads. This is a subject which needs 
to be better worked out by local experiment. We 
should understand that we are only on the threshold of 
intensive pomology in this country and that the refine- 
ments of coming years will make our present practices 
seem as crude and ignorant as those of a hundred years 
ago now seem to us. 

Spraying. — In spite of the fact that plum culture 
is more of a specialty than apple culture, and therefore 
apt to be more refined in its methods, spraying has not 
established itself so thoroughly as a part of the former 
as it has with the latter. The reason for this appears 
to be that the fruit grower has not been able to secure 
the same positive results in spraying plums as in spray- 
ing apples. And the reason for this, in turn, I 
suspect, is that the problems of plum spraying are 
more diverse and complicated; that they demand, 
therefore, m.ore detailed treatment directed to special 
ends; and that a general, free-for-all spraying is much 
less likely to touch the right spot. Nevertheless, it 
has been abundantly shown in particular cases that 
proper spraying will remedy most of the diseases and 
stop the work of most of the insects (curculio and 
gouger excepted) to which the plum is subject. In 
particular, attention should be directed to the fact that 
spraying will prevent most of the damage from monilia, 
or fruit rot, and from the shot-hole fungus. Many of 
the other troubles are also allayed or overcome. These 
matters are discussed further in the chapters on dis- 
eases and on insects. The plum grower ought to 
spray, just as much as anyone, but it will require more 
brains to make his spraying effective. 



Orchard and Garden Management 279 

It should be noted that many of the plums, and 
particularly the Japanese and Wildgoose varieties, are 
very readily damaged by applications of bordeaux 
mixture. The mixture burns the foliage, often causing 
it to fall. Bordeaux mixture for plums must be weaker 
than for apples. For Japanese varieties it should be 
about one-third the strength usually recommended. 

Thinning. — Thinning is important with many 
kinds of fruit, but with none more than with 
plums. Many varieties, particularly of the Japanese 
and Americana classes, have a great tendency to over- 
bear. They will set twice to ten times as much fruit 
as they ought to mature, and do it year after year. 
Burbank, De Soto and Lombard may be mentioned 
as examples. This overbearing tends to weaken the 
trees. In fact, hundreds of trees are killed by it. At 
the same time it makes the current crops small of fruit 
and less valuable on the market. One bushel of fine 
large fruit is worth three bushels of sour, undersized 
plums, and it is much easier for the tree to produce it. 
Thinning is a well-recognized practice among the 
best growers. 

The fruit should be thinned immediately after 
the June drop. The thinning is usually done by hand, 
and though this is a slow and somewhat expensive 
business, it is not half so expensive as it is not to do it. 
Some less fastidious growers thin the fruit roughly 
by running a fine-toothed garden rake over the 
branches. This is much better than no thinning at all, 
but not so good as the hand thinning. When the work 
is done by hand, the workman must use his judgment 
as to how many fruits to leave, and which ones. Usu- 
ally he leaves too many. A good Vermont grower 
who makes a specialty of fancy Burbanks thins to 
leave the fruits nine inches apart on the stems. An 
average of six inches apart may be taken roughly as 



28o Plums and Plum Culture 

a fair standard for most varieties and situations, but 
this will fluctuate considerably. 

Picking and Marketing. — It goes without saying 
that plums must be hand-picked. At least it ought to. 
Still, I have seen plums shaken off the trees and sold. 
That sort of business, though, can hardly be called 
legitimate. Some of the politicians, even, have found 
that it does not always pay to "shake the plum tree." 
In general, it is best to have small market baskets to 
pick in; and these may be furnished with wire hooks 
to the handles so as to be hung in the branches of the 
trees, though a picker will seldom climb into a plum 
tree. A tall stepladder is best for reaching plum 
trees, and the basket can be set on top of this. It 
should be light and yet stable. 

Most plums ought to be picked a few days before 
they are thoroughly ripe, unless they are to be used 
at home and at once. Even then, care should be taken 
that they do not become overripe. A plum is 
better just before it is perfectly ripe than afterward. 
The Japanese people always eat their plums green, and 
I know some Americans who have a taste for green 
plum-s. Some varieties, especially the Japanese sorts, 
may be picked a week to two weeks before they are 
ripe, and stored or shipped to market, and ripen per- 
fectly, with good color and perfect flavor, meanwhile. 
Some of Mr. Burbank's new hybrids, particularly the 
varieties Apple and Occident, will keep for several 
weeks after picking. I have kept specimens of them 
in good condition in a common living room for three 
weeks. Plums for jelly should be picked almost as 
soon as they are full grown and long before they 
are soft-ripe. 

In general, the best package for shipping plums to 
market is the ten-pound grape basket. Certain special 
peck baskets and half-bushel baskets are sometimes 



Orchard and Garden Management 281 

used. They are well enough if they strike the fancy 
of the market, and if the grower can buy them at a 
satisfactory price. The advantage of the ten-pound 
grape basket is that everybody knows it, and the 
shipper can always buy it at a reasonable price. Fancy 
plums for the fruit-stand trade are sometimes sold in 
the quart baskets made for strawberries. Much of 
the fancy fruit from California comes in small special 
baskets, the individual fruits being wrapped in tissue 
paper. The Simon plum nearly always comes to our 
market in that way. 

These baskets should be filled in the packing 
house, and not in the field. The fruit should be 
brought in in the baskets used by the pickers, and 
should all be sorted, graded and faced into the pack- 
ages which are to take it to market. These packages 
should then be sealed and marked. It wih hardly be 
necessary here to call attention to the value of careful 
packing, honest facing, clean packages, plain stencils, 
and all the other details of neatness which have been 
proven over and over again to be the secrets of profit- 
able fruit selling with all classes of fruits. A man 
who knows enough to grow a special crop like plums 
will surely know the importance of these things and 
will put them, into conscientious practice. 




XXXI 

Pollination 



HE study of pollination as a 
question of practical pomology 
is something new. Only the 
most recent books treat of it. 
Nevertheless, it is now known 
to be a matter of great impor- 
tance with many fruits ; and with 
none more than with the plums. 
When the native plums first 
began to be cultivated in this country, their general 
self-sterility was a drawback which in many cases 
proved fatal to their success. The settlers in the prai- 
rie states found many good plums growing along the 
river banks, and of these they gathered freely for their 
own use. When a specially good tree was found, 
bearing an abundance of extra fine fruit, that tree was 
marked, and the next spring the settler removed it to 
his garden on the homestead. But such trees often 
failed to fruit or proved altogether unsatisfactory when 

282 




Pollination 283 

transplanted in this way. The cause was seldom dis- 
covered; but in many cases it was doubtless due to the 
fact that the tree had been growing with many others 
and had been well cross-pollinated in its old home on 
the river bank, but when isolated in the garden its 
flowers were not fertilized. 

Self-sferilify,— This condition of self-sterility is 
very common among plums. It is well-nigh universal 
with the native species, and the Japanese plums seem 
to have the same character. The old European or 
Domestica varieties seem to be less subject to this dif- 
ficulty, though there is less experimental evidence on 
record touching their case. 

A variety is spoken of as being self-sterile when 
the pollen from its blossoms fails to fecundate its own 
ovules. Unless the ovule of the fruit is fertilized, — 
or fecundated, — it does not develop into a seed; and 
unless the seed develops, the fruit fails to grow. The 
crop of fruit thus depends in many cases entirely on 
proper pollination. This subject has been thoroughly 
studied in recent years, and our knowledge of it, 
though still limited, is much greater than it was a 
decade ago. It will not be necessary here to go into 
the details of the experiments which have been directed 
to the study of this question. The practical results 
are all that are now required. 

Cause of self-sterility. — Self-sterility of any va- 
riety or tree may be due to any one of several 
different causes. The most important of these are 
(a) defective pistils, (b) insufficient pollen, (c) differ- 
ence in time of maturity between the stigma and the 
pollen, and (d) impotency of pollen. 

Defective pistils. — It has been found that many 
trees and varieties, especially of native plums, often 
have imperfect pistils. These imperfections or de- 



284 Plums and Plum Culture 

formities are of various kinds, but the commonest is 
an atrophied or undeveloped pistil. The female or- 
gans of the flower simply fail to grow. They may be 
found in the center of the blossom, blackened, de- 
formed and shriveled. In a few cases certain trees 
never produce good pistils. There are a few named 
varieties in cultivation, merely as curiosities, which 
never have perfect pistils. The Blackman plum, and 
Mr. Kerr's Mule are of this sort. It is evident that in 
such cases no fruit can be formed. 

Extensive studies of these defects made at the 
Vermont Experiment station, however, show that they 
are seldom of practical consequence. There are usu- 
ally enough good pistils on any tree of native plums to 
make a full crop if conditions are favorable for 
pollination. 

Insti-fficient pollen. — In some cases it doubtless 
happens that there is a shortage of pollen, and that 
pollination fails on that account. This occurs very 
seldom, however, and practically may be left out of 
account. 

Difference in time of maturity hetzveen the stigma 
and the pollen. — The stigma is often ready before the 
pollen is. This is especially true of the Americana 
plums. This difference in maturity has been observed 
to be as much as five days. It varies with the locality 
and the season. It does not seem to be a constant 
characteristic of any particular varieties. The pollen 
is sometimes shed before the stigmas are ready for it ; 
but this occurs so very rarely, according to my obser- 
vations, that it amounts to nothing. Even when the 
anthers burst before the stigmas of the same flowers 
are quite ready, this difference is never more than a 
few hours; and there seems to be always pollen enough 
from other flowers on the same tree to effect a thor- 



Pollination 285 

oiigh pollination, supposing the pollen to be efficient. 
In the more usual cases in which the stigmas mature 
first, it seems that an unpoUinated stigma may remain 
receptive for a considerable time. In the case ob- 
served, where the stigmas were out five days ahead of 
the anthers, they remained sticky to the end of the 
time, were eventually pollinated, and bore an abundant 
crop of fruit. Difference in time of maturity, there- 
fore, does not seem to be the point of greatest practical 
consequence. 

1 111 potency of pollen. — Here is where the trouble 
lies. It is found that the pollen of Wildgoose, for ex- 
ample, though perfectly capable of fertilizing almost 
any other variety which it reaches, is absolutely 
useless in fecundating its own blossoms. What is 
true of Wildgoose is true of almost all the other 
plums derived from native species, and of many 
others. 

It has already been said above, in various connec- 
tions, that the native plums are nearly all self-sterile. 
Robinson is the only exception to this class which I 
have found in extensive experiments carried on now 
for five years. Even Robinson does noit seem to be 
thoroughly reliable in .self-pollination. The Japanese 
plums seem to be generally self-sterile in the same way. 
Several of the Domestica plums seem to be self-fertile, 
and several seem to be self-sterile. No satisfactory 
experiments with them are on record. Under the cir- 
cumstances it is best to hold them all in doubt. All 
the hybrid plums, so far as I know, — and I have tested 
a number of them, — are also self-sterile. 

We are reduced to this conclusion, then, that, 
while various plums may someti'mes be capable of self- 
fertilization, they are so nearly always self-sterile that 
it is the part of wisdom to act in all cases as though 
self-steriJity were certain. Plums should always be 



286 Plums and Plum Culture 

planted on the assumption that they will require cross- 
pollination. 

Choosing varieties for pollination. — The only re- 
maining question is what varieties shall be chosen for 
mutual cross-fertilization. This involves several con- 
siderations. Investigation of the subject shows that 
this mixing of varieties should not be made carelessly. 
Some varieties will pollinate each other, while some 
will not. The selection of varieties for proper cross- 
pollination should be controlled by certain general 
principles. The most important matters to be con- 
sidered in selecting a pollenizer for a given variety 
seem to be the following four: (a) Blossoming season, 
(b) mutual affinity, (c) amount of pollen borne, (d) 
value of the pollenizer as a fruit-bearer. 

The first requirement is absolute. If two varieties 
do not blossom at the same time they cannot pollinate 
one another. The second one is very important in 
some cases. The third is apparently less often of 
practical consequence. The fourth consideration is 
not a matter of pollination properly, but is often of 
more practical importance to the fruit grower than 
some of the others. 

Blossoming seasons. — The most important require- 
ment, in order that two varieties shall pollinate each 
other, is that they blossom at the same time. It if 
therefore necessary to have a somewhat extensive 
knowledge of the blossoming seasons of plums. Along 
with other investigations, I have collected a consider- 
able mass of data relative to this question. The best 
way to make this available seems to be to tabulate it 
in some such manner as that shown In the following 
•'blossoming chart," republished from the eleventh an- 
nual report of the Vermont Experiment station. In 
this chart the first column gives the names of the varie- 
ties in the order of their blossoming. The second col- 



Pollination 287 

umn indicates the pomological group to which each 
variety belongs. This is a matter of some importance 
in selecting varieties for cross-pollination, as will be 
explained later. The third column shows the num- 
ber of observations which have been made of the 
blossoming time of the variety. The heavy horizontal 
lines represent the periods during which the several 
varieties are generally in blossom. One can tell, 
therefore, l^y comparing two varieties in the chart, 
whether they blossom nearly enough together to make 
them safe mutual pollenizers. 

This chart is made up largely from notes taken 
in the orchards of Mr. J. W. Kerr, at Denton, Mary- 
land, which is about the latitude of Washington. This 
is a convenient latitude, being about midway north 
and south in the plum-growing area of the continent. 
vSouthward from Washington the blossoming season 
is earlier, and it is also longer. The further south we 
go the longer the season is; and the further north we 
go, the shorter it is. We thus find greater difificulty 
in arranging varieties so as to have them bloom to- 
gether in the southern states than we do in the north- 
ern states, or In Canada. 

These facts should be borne in mind In making 
use of the blossoming chart. It also raises the ques- 
tion as to whether or not a chart made for one locality 
win be of any use In another latitude. The author has 
made several careful examinations of this question, 
from which he has concluded that a general chart of 
this sort has Its limitations, and that a chart made for 
a particular locality, from blossoming records taken 
at the same place, Is more reliable. In the absence of 
local notes, however, It seems that a general state- 
ment like the one here given Is so nearly correct that 
it can be used without much fear of mistake. 
With these explanations the chart Is submitted. 



28 



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Pollination 1297 

Mutual affinities. — The question of mutual affini- 
ties comes next in order. Do certain varieties have 
special predilections with respect to pollen from other 
varieties? This question in the eyes of many plum 
students has seemed to be of great importance, and 
the writer confesses once to have held strongly to this 
prejudice. This theory is not confirmed, however, by 
the evidence at hand; for while it is certainly true that 
a given variety will sometimes accept the pollen of its 
neighbor on the left and will not be pollinated by its 
neighbor on the right, there seems to be no safe gen- 
eral rule governing these selective affinities. In so far 
as generalizations may be hazarded in this matter, they 
may be summarized as follows : 

Japanese group. — These plums are readily polli- 
nated by the varieties of almost any other group. The 
least affinity seems to exist between them and the Do- 
mestica varieties. They are easily pollinated by the 
Simon plum and by varieties of the Myrobalan or 
Marianna class, but are especially apt to be pollinated 
by members of the Chicasaw and Wildgoose groups. 
This is so much the case that where the Japanese va- 
rieties grow mixed with natives of the two groups 
mentioned, almost every one of the seedlings from the 
Japanese seed will show decidedly the Chicasaw or 
Wildgoose characteristics. Ever since the Japanese 
plums were first studied in this country by Bailey, it 
has been understood that they were closely related 
botanically to the groups now mentioned as their 
ready pollenizers. 

Chicasazv group. — Many of these varieties are in- 
ter-fertile among themselves, as indeed, seems to be 
the case within most specific groups. They are also 
readily pollinated by most varieties of the Wildgoose 
type, or even by those of the Wayland type, where the" 



298 Plums and Plum Culture 

latter do not blossom too late. They are usually 
inter-fertile also with the Japanese plums. Accumu- 
lating evidence goes to show that the Chicasaw plums 
have long been interbreecUng with the Americanas in 
the field, and that the woods are literally full of the re- 
sulting hybrids. In fact, the whole so-called Hortulana 
series, including the Wildgoose, IMiner and Wayland 
groups, seems to have no other pedigree. This 
would, of course, indicate some considerable degree of 
affinity between the two groups; but experience in the 
orchard shows that Americana varieties are seldom the 
best pollenizers for the Chicasaws, and, vice versa, 
that the latter are not the most effective with the for- 
mer. The Chicasaw^s also blossom earlier than the 
Americanas in most cases. 

Wildgoose group. — Many of these varieties are 
good mutual pollenizers, though others are not. For 
instance, Mr. Kerr's experience has shown that Wild- 
goose, Whitaker and Milton, though blooming simul- 
taneously, will not pollinate one another. Sophie will 
pollinate either, but neither will pollinate Sophie. Va- 
rieties of the Miner and Wayland groups are usually 
entirely effective w^hen agreeing in blossoming season. 
Japanese varieties often do the work. The best pol- 
lenizers, however, seem to be of the Chicasaw group. 
Newman, for instance, is a remarkably useful com- 
panion for all varieties of the Wildgoose group blos- 
soming at the same time. The Americana varieties 
are sometimes effective, but are not to be chosen 
as a rule. 

Wayland group. — On account of the late blossom- 
ing of most of these varieties, it is difficult to select 
pollenizers for them from other groups. Such varie- 
ties as Miner seem to be satisfactory, however, and 
the several sorts are generally mutually inter-fertile. 



Pollination 299 

Miner group. — These varieties are best pollinated 
by the Americanas or by other varieties of the same 
group. 

Americana group. — The sexual affinities of this 
group with the Chicasaws have already been dis- 
cussed above. The standing of the Americanas toward 
the members of the Wildgoose group is much the 
same. Americana varieties are usually best pollinated 
by others of the same group or by such sorts as Miner, 
Maquoketa or Forest Rose, of the Miner group. 

Amount of pollen produced. — The question next in 
order in selecting a pollenizer is the amount of pollen 
which it produces. A plum to be a good pollenizer 
should bear an abundance of pollen. A^arieties dififer 
in this respect. The same variety may differ also one 
year with another, or in one locality as compared with 
another. Beyond the mere fact that these variations 
are somewhat common, not much is known about this 
subject. The Chicasaw varieties as a class seem to 
be good pollen bearers, especially such varieties as 
Newman, Clark and Pottawattamie. Wildgoose bears 
abundant pollen under most circumstances, although 
it is one of the most notably self-sterile varieties in 
general cultivation. Sophie, on the other hand, be- 
longing to the same group, seems to be deficient in 
pollen bearing. Some of the hybrid plums just com- 
ing into cultivation seem to be especially subject to 
contabescence, or defectiveness of the male flower or- 
gans. Although our knowledge of this subject is se- 
riously limited, it ought to be taken into account, as 
far as it goes, in selecting varieties for cross-pollination. 

Fruiting value. — We now come to the question 
of the value of the pollenizer as a fruit bearer. It is 
a good thing for a plum tree to bear pollen, but it is 
still better if the same tree will bear an abundance of 



300 Plums and Plum Culture 

good fruit. The practical horticulturist is bound to 
take this view early into account when selecting pol- 
lenizers for his orchard. This, of course, involves the 
whole question of the selection of varieties, which can- 
not be taken up here, but which is discussed in another 
chapter. But this matter, with the others foregoing, 
has been taken into account in making up the recom- 
mendations set forth in the subjoined table of 
pollenizers. 

Specific rccoininendations. — All these various mat- 
ters discussed above, — blossoming season, affinity, 
amount of pollen, and value of the pollenizer as a fruit 
bearer, — have to be taken into account at once in se- 
lecting varieties for cross-pollination. It is somewhat 
difficult to give these each its proper relative weight in 
making a selection. The careful and studious plum 
grower will naturally acquaint himself with these con- 
ditions, and will thus be able eventually to decide such 
questions for himself better than anyone can decide 
them for him. It is for his benefit that so much atten- 
tion is given in this chapter to explaining the various 
fundamental principles involved. But the beginner 
will do better to rely on the judgment of men who are 
acquainted with the varieties in hand. With this 
thought in mind, the writer, with the help of Mr. J. W. 
Kerr, has prepared a tabular list of pollenizers which 
may be recommended for all the principal native and 
Japanese varieties. Concerning the Domesticas, a 
word will be said later. This table, which follows, is 
republished from the twelfth annual report of the 
Vermont Experiment station. 



POLLENIZING CHART 



Variety 



Abundance. 



African. . 
Aitkin. . . , 
American 
"Eagle . . , 
Apricot . . , 



Arkansas 

August 

Beaty 

Bender 

Benson 

Berckmans. . 
Blackhawk . . 

Brill 

Burbank. . . . 
Caddo Chief. 
California. . . 
Carver 



Chabot . . . 
Champion. 
Cheney. . . 



Cherokee 

Choptank 

Clam 

Clark 

Clifford...... 

Cluck 

Comfort 

Coletta 

Colorado 

Queen 

Comptine 

Cook's Choice 

Cottrell 

Crescent City. 
Cumberland. . 

T)akota 

Davis 

DeCaradeuc. . 



Group 



Recommended Pollenizers 



Japan P.urbank, Red June, Chabot, Satsuma, George- 

j son 

Chicasaw. . iJeaty, Newman, Arkansas. 
Nigra Burbank, Marianna, Cheney. 



Americana 
do 



Chicasaw. 

Nigra 

Chicasaw. . 
Americana 
Wayland. . 

Japan 

Americana 
Myrobalan 

Japan 

"Chicasaw. . 

Americana 

do 



Tapan 

Americana 
Nigra 



Arnericana 
Wildgoose. 
Americana 
Chicasaw. . 

do 

do 

Americana 
Chicasaw. . 



Americana. 

do 

do 

do 

Miner 

Wayland. . 
Americana 
VV'ildgoose. 
Myrobalan 



Hawkeye, Speer, Wyant, DeSoto, Miner. 

Stoddard, Wolf, Forest Garden, American 
Eagle. 

Newman, Smiley, Wildgoose. 

Stoddard, Forest Garden, Wolf. 

Newman, Wildgoose, Smiley. 

Wolf, Forest Garden, Dunlap, Stoddard. 

Wayland, Golden Beauty, Kanawha. 

Burbank, Abundance, Chabot. 

American Eagle, Hunt, Stoddard, Wolf. 

Marianna, DeCaradeuc, Burbank. 

Abundance, Chabot, Satsuma, Red June. 

Early Red, Marianna. 

American Eagle, DeSoto, Hammer, Miner. 

Wolf, Forest Garden, American Eagle, Stod- 
dard. 

Burbank, Abundance, Hale, Kelsey, Kerr. 

American Eagle, Hammer, Miner, DeSoto. 

Weaver, Gavlord, Forest Garden, Hawkeye, 
DeSoto. ' 

Deepcreek, Colorado Queen, Wildgoose, Smiley. 

Wayland, Hollister, Idall, Golden Beauty. 

Wyant, Miner, Captain. 

Newman, Beaty, Smiley, Arkansas. 

Newman, Munson, Beaty, Arkansas. 

¥.'ooten, Dunlap, Kroh, Sophie. 

American Eagle, Kopp, Hammer. 

Alunson, Clark, Newman, African. 

Forest Garden, Wolf, Hilltop, Stoddard. 
Forest Garden, Wolf, Stoddard. 
Stoddard, Forest Garden, Quaker, Kopp, Ham- 
mer. 
Wolf, Forest Garden, Stoddard. 
Miner, Moreman, Prairie Flower, Maquoketa. 
W hitaker, Indian Chief, Wilder. 
American Eagle, Hawkeye, DeSoto. 
Wayland, Choptank, Hollister, Golden Beauty. 
Marianna, Abundance, Burbank. 



301 



302 Pollenizing Chart — Continued 



Variety 



Deepcreek .... 
Des Moines. . 

DeSoto 

Downing 

Drouth King. 

Dunlap 

Carly Red 

Eldora 

El Paso 

P^merson 

Engre 

Esther 

Excelsior 

Forest Garden 
Forest Rose. . 
Forewattamie 

Freeman 

Galena 

Garfield 



Gavlord 

Gold (Terry) 



Golden 

Golden Beautj 
Gravson. . . . 

Hale 

Hammer. . . 



Hanson, 



Hattie 

Hawkeye. 
Heaton. . . 
Hiawatha . 



Hilltop 

Hollister 

Holt 

Honey 

Hughes 

Ida 

Idall 

Illinois 

Ironclad . . 
Indiana Red. 
Indian Chief. 

lona 

lov/a 

Irene 

Iris 



Itasca 

James Vick. 
Jewell ...... 

Joe Hooker. 
Jones Late. . 

Juicy 

Kampeska. . . 



Americana 

do 

do 

Wildgoose. 

Chicasaw. . 

VVildgoose 

Chicasaw. . 

Americana 

VVildgoose. 

Chicasaw . . 

Japan. . = . . 

Miner.... 

Hybrid . . . . 

Americana 

Miner 

Hybrid... 

Wildgoose. 

Am.ericana 

Wayland . . 

Americana 
do 



Hybrid..., 
Wayland. . 
Americana 

Japan 

Americana 



do. 



Myrobalan 
Americana 

do 

do 



do 

Wildgoose. 
Americana 

do 

Chicasaw. . 
Americana 
Miner. . . . 

Americana 
Miner. . . . 
Wildgoose. 
Americana 

do 

do 

Miner. ... 



Nigra 

Wildgoose. 
do. 

Americana 

do 

Hybrid... 
Americana 



Recommended PoUenizers 



Cherokee, Wildgoose, Smiley. 

Cherokee, Wildgoose, Smiley. 

Hawkeye, Weaver, Louisa, Rollingstone. 

Pottawattamie, Wooten, Cluck, Kroh. 

Beaty, Newman, Hughes. 

James Vick, Kioh, Moreman, Forest Rose. 

Caddo Chief, Marianna. 

Miner, Moreman, August, Wolf. 

Wildgoose, Smiley, Clifford, Newman. 

Munson. Newman, Clark. 

Marianna, Kerr, Chabot, Ogon. 

Maquoketa, Iris, Surprise, Stoddard. 

Munson, Beaty, Newman, Arkansas. 

Stoddard, American Eagle, Kopp, Quaker. 

Miner, Hammer, Prairie Flower. 

Wayland, Golden Beauty, Choptank. 

Pottawattamie, Schley, Wilder, Cumberland. 

Stoddard, Holt, Iowa, Illinois Ironclad. 

Miner, Forest Rose, Golden Beautj', Missouri 
Apricot. 

DeSoto, Rollingstone, Cheney, Hawkeye. 

Stoddard, Forest Garden, Quaker, Late Rolling- 
stone. 

Dunlap, Kroh, James Vick. 

Wayland, Moreman, Kroh, Miner. 

DeSoto, Weaver, Hawkeye. 

Chabot, Kerr, Kelsey, Uchi Beni. 

Miner, Moreman, Kopp, American Eagle, Van 
Deman. 

A.merican Eagle, Stoddard, Forest Garden, 
Clifford. 

Itasca, Purple Yosemite, Munson. 

DeSoto, Weaver, Cheney, American Eagle. 

American Eagle, Hawkeye, DeSoto. 

DeSoto, Hawkeye, Rollingstone, Benson, Wil- 
liams' 17. 

DeSoto, Hawkeye, Rollingstone. 

Choptank, Wayland, Moreman, Macedonia. 

Iowa, Pfeffer Premium, Stoddard, Muncy. 

Stoddard, American Eagle, Forest Garden. 

Wildgoose, Newman, Smiley, El Paso. 

Stoddard, American Eagle, Forest Garden. 

Miner, American Eagle, Wyant, Silas Wilson. 

Stoddard, Wolf, Forest Garden, Kopp. 
Miner, idall, American Eagle, Wyant. 
Pottawattamie, Wooten, Cumberland. 
Wolf, Quaker, Stoddard, Forest Garden. 
Stoddard, Hammer, Quaker, Forest Garden. 
Stoddard, Hammer, Forest Garden, Quaker. 
Miner, Hammer, Moreman, Prairie Flower, 

Forest Rose. 
Wazata, Manitoba 4. 
Moreman, Golden Beauty, Dunlap. 
Moreman, Golden Beauty, Dunlap. 
Holt, Iowa, Kieth. 

Kopp, Hammer, Miner, American Eagle. 
Pottawattamie, Whitaker, Wooten. 
Hammer, Kopp, Miner, Forest Garden, Leonard. 



Pollenizing Chart — Continued 303 



Variety 



Kanawha 

Kelsey 

Kerr 

Kickapoo 

Kieth 

Kniidson 

Teach 

Kopp 

Kroh 

Large Red 

Sweet 

Late 

Rollingstone 

Le Due 

Leonard 

Leptune 

Lonestar 

Louisa 

Macedonia. . . . 

Mankato 

M aquoketa .... 

Marcus 

Marion 

Miller 

Milton 

Miner 

Minnetonka. . . 

Missouri 
Apricot. . . . 

Moon 

Moremao 

Moreman 
Cherry 

IMuncy 

Mimson 

Nebraska 

Newman 

Newton Egg. . 

N imon 

Normand. .... 

North Carolina 

Noyes 

C)cheeda. . . . 

Ohio Prolific. . 

Old Gold 

Osage 

Pendent 

Penning Peach 

Pfeflfer Premi- 
um 

Piram 

Pottawattamie. 

Prairie Flower 

Purple 
Yosemite. . . 

Quaker 



Group 



Wayland. . 
Japanese. . 

do 

Americana 

do 



do 

do 

Wildgoose . 

Americana 



do 

do 

do 

Wayland. . 

Chicasaw. 

Americana 

Wildgoose 
Americana 
Miner. . . . 
Americana 

do 

do 



Wildgoose . 
Miner. . . . 



Americana 

Wayland . . 
Americana 
W^ayland. . 



do 

Americana 
Chicasaw. . 

Miner 

Chicasaw. . 
Americana 
Wayland. . 
Japanese. . 
Americana 
Miner. . . . 
Americana 
Wildgoose. 
Americana 
Wildgoose. 

Nigra 

Americana 



do 

Chicasaw. . 

do 

Miner 

Americana 
do 



Recommended PoUenizers 



Golden Beauty, Moreman, Wayland. 
Hale, Satsuma, Marianna, Ogon. 
Ciiabot, Maru, Ogcn, Yosebe, Georgeson. 
Hawkeye, DeSoto, Wyant, American Eagle. 
Stoddard, Wolf, Forest Garden, Cook's Choice. 

Forest Garden, Hammer, Kopp, Miner. 
Forest Garden, Hammer, American Eagle. 
Cluck, James Vick, Wayland, Golden Beauty. 

Stoddard, American Eagle, Forest Garden. 

Gaylord, Wolf, Stoddard, Forest Garden. 

American Eagle, Hammer, Kopp, Miner. 

Stoddard, Wolf, Forest Garden, Quaker. 

^^'ayland, Kanawha, Golden Beauty. 

Newman, Wildgoose, Milton. 

DeSoto, Weaver, Hawkeye, Rockford, Rolling- 
stone. 

Wayland, Dunlap, James Vick. 

Forest Garden, Miner, Hammer, Iowa. 

Miner, Prairie Flower, Surprise. 

Stoddard, Forest Garden, Kopp, Quaker. 

Forest Garden, Stoddard, Quaker. 

Stoddard, Forest Garden, American Eagle, 
Kopp. 

Newman, Smiley, Clark, Kroh. 

Hammer, Indian Chief, American Eagle, Forest 
Rose. 

Ocheeda, Rollingstone, Weaver, Speer. 

Golden Beauty, Wayland, Kanawha. 
Forest Garden, Stoddard, Wolf. 
Miner, Wayland, Golden Beauty, Wolf. 

Wayland, Golden Beauty, Kanawha, Cluck. 

Hawkeye, DeSoto, American Eagle, Wyant. 

Nev/man, Clark, Emerson, James Vick. 

Prairie Flower, Iris, Esther, Choptank. 

Wildgoose, Smiley, Clifford. 

Iowa, Stoddard, Forest Garden. 

Miner, Wayland, Golden Beauty. 

Burbank, Abundance, Chabot. 

Kopp, Flammer, Forest Garden, INIiner. 

Miner, Prairie Flower, Forest Rose. 

Minnetonka, Rollingstone, Weaver. 

Newman, Smiley, Pottawattamie. 

American Eagle, Hammer, Kopp, Quaker. 

El Paso, Pottawattamie, Wooten, Downing. 

Stoddard, Forest Garden, Iowa, Holt. 

Holt, Joe Hooker, Stoddard, Wolf, Smith Red. 

Joe Hooker, Holt, Iowa, Marion. 
Pottawattamie, Wooten, Downing. 
Whitaker, Indian Chief, Wooten. 
Miner, Moreman, Rockford, Quaker. 

Wazata, Itaska, Manitoba 4. 

American Eagle, Kopp, Hammer, Forest Garden. 



304 Pollenizing Chart — Continued 



Variety 



Rachael 

Rebecca 

Reche 

Red June 

Reed 

Robinson 

Rock ford 

Rollingstone. . 

Roulette 

Satsuma 

Schley 

Seper Peach. . 

Surprise 

Silas Wilson. 

Sloe 

Smiley 

Smith Red . . . 

Sophie 

Speer 

Stoddard 

Strawberry . . . 
Sucker State. 
Texas Belle. . 
Van Buren. . . 
Van Deman . . 

Waraju 

Wayland 

Vv^azata 

Weaver 

Whitaker 

Wickson 

Wier 

Large Red. 

Wilder 

Wildgoose. . . . 

Wildrose 

Willard 

Winnebago. . . 

Wyant 

Wolf 

Wood 

Wooten 

Yellow Sweet 
Yellow 

Transparent 
Yosebe 



Americana 

do 

do 

Japanese. . 
Wayland . . 
Chicasaw. . 
Americana 

do 

Wildgoose. 
Japanese. . 
Wildgoose. 

Nigra 

INIiner. . . . 
Americana 

do 

Wildgoose. 

Nigra 

\\'ildgoose 
Americana 

do 

AVatsoni. . . 
V/ayland. . 
Cuicasaw. 
Americana 

do 



do 

W'ayland . . 
Nigra .... 
Americana 
Wildgoose. 
Hybrid... 



Miner 

Wildgoose. 
do 



Americana 
Japanese. . 
"Americana 

do 

do' 



do 

Wildgoose . 
Americana 

Chicasaw. 
Japanese. . 



Recommended Pollenizers 



Stoddard, Forest Garden, American Eagle. 

Stoddard, Forest Garden, American Eagle. 

Holt, Stoddard, Joe Hooker, Wood. 

Burbank, Abvin dance, Chabot, Satsuma. 

Wayland, Golden Beauty, Kanawha, Leptune. 

Munson, Coletta, Clark, Newman. 

American Eagle, Wyant, DeSoto, Miner. 

Weaver, Minnetonka, Winnebago, Moon. 

Schley, Pottawattamie, Whitaker, W'ooten. 

Burbank, Abundance, Red June, Chabot. 

African, Whitaker, Pottawattamie, Wooten. 

Forest Garden, August, Stoddard. 

Miner, torest Rose, Prairie Flower, Quaker. 

American Eagle, Hammer, Kopp, Quaker. 

Iowa, Holt, Stoddard, Wood. 

Wildgoose, Newman, Beaty, Colorado Queen. 

Marion, Kieth, Iowa, Wood. " 

Smiley, Cluck, Golden Beauty, Wayland. 

Weaver, Rollingstone, Cheney. 

Forest Garden, Quaker, Holt, Hammer. 

Newman, Beatv, Arkansas Lombard. 

Whitaker, Cumberland, Wooten, Miner. 

Lone Star, Pottawattamie, Milton, Wildgoose. 

American Eagle, Miner, Hawkeye, Champion. 

Stoddard, Forest Garden, American Eagle, Ham- 
mer. 

Holt, Wood, Kieth, Joe Hooker. 

Golden Beauty, Kanawha, Moreman, Miner. 

Itaska, Purple Yosemite, Manitoba 4. 

Rollingstone, DeSoto, Louisa, Gaylord. 

Newman, Kroh, Smiley, Sophie. 

Red June, Burbank, Abundance, Georgeson, 
Chabot. 

Nebraska, Stoddard, Maquoketa. 

Pottawattamie, Freeman, Cumberland, Kroh. 

Newman, Smiley, Clark, Munson, very good. 
Not Miner nor Moreman. 

Stoddard, Forest Garden, American Eagle. 

Yosebe, Ogon, Emerson. 

Holt, Stoddard, Wood, Joe Hooker. 

American Eagle, DeSoto, Hawkeye. 

Stoddard, American Eagle, Quaker, Forest Gar- 
den. 

Stoddard, Wolf, Holt. Iowa. 

Pottawattamie, Miner, Whitaker. 

Purple Yosemite, Deepcreek. 

Munson, Newman, Early Red, Clark, Emerson. 
Ogon, Kerr, Maru. 



Pollination 305 

The Domesticas and the Damsons. — With respect to 
the Domesticas, which have been pretty much ignored 
in the foregoing discussion, a word or two more should 
be said. The varieties of this group, including also 
the Damsons, do not seem to be so generally self- 
sterile as other plums. However, unless a given va- 
riety is positively known to be self-fertile in the locality 
where it is to be planted, it would be better to mix it 
with some suitable pollenizer. In selecting polleniz- 
ers for Domesticas and Damsons, it would probably be 
best to choose from the same groups. In the northern 
states, where alone (excepting in California) these va- 
rieties are grown, nearly all the Domesticas and Dam- 
sons blossom so closely together as to make this safe. 

Agencies of pollination. — In the plum orchard pol- 
lination is usually effected by insects, especially by 
bees, and more particularly by the common honey bee. 
This one species seems to be far more useful in dis- 
tributing pollen than all other agencies combined. 
The wind may do something in the way of carrying 
pollen. Probably it does at times, though the experi- 
ments which I have made on this subject have pointed 
to the contrary conclusion. 

June drop. — At this point attention should be 
called to the phenomenon known among plum and 
peach growers as the ''June drop." It seems to be 
always the case that a large proportion, — from twenty- 
five to one hundred per cent, — of the fruit which appar- 
ently sets falls ofif just as it should begin to grow. This 
fall of young fruits usually occurs within a short space 
of time, and comes, in medium latitudes, some time 
in June. 

Various explanations of the June drop have been 
suggested. The causes usually assigned are (i) non- 
pollination, (2) curculio work, and (3) the struggle for 
20 



3o6 Plums and Plum Culture 

existence. All these doubtless operate, though all 
vary greatly with circumstances. In some instances 
one plays the most important part; in other cases an- 
other cause has the greatest effect. 

Studies made at the Vermont Experiment station 
show that lack of pollination is certainly one of the 
causes. A large number of the young plums which 
are imperfectly pollinated at blossoming time never 
begin to develop, but fall off within a week or ten days. 
A certain number, however, — usually a smaller num- 
ber, — remain on the tree and begin to grow. These 
may hang on till they are half or two-thirds grown, 
but presently they stop growing, turn yellow, and fall. 
This may occur from lack of pollination alone. Per- 
haps such fruits are stimulated to a partial develop- 
ment by a partial pollination. Perhaps they begin 
their growth for some other reason. At any rate, they 
do not reach maturity, but instead come to the ground 
with the June drop. 

Examination of specimens leaves no room for 
doubt that the curculio is also a factor in the June drop 
of plums. The curculio sometimes works directly into 
the seed, causing the certain and early fall of the fruit. 
In other cases the larva works only in the flesh just 
outside the stone. The fruit usually shows symptoms 
of premature ripening, and earlier or later is apt to fall. 
Many curculio-infested fruits remain on the tree till 
ripening time, however. The majority of the curculio 
drops seem to come toward the end of the season, 
mostly in July, whereas the non-pollinated drops seem 
to fall mostly in June. 

The third factor mentioned remains to be consid- 
ered. Numbers of young plums fall even though well 
pollinated and though unattacked by the curculio. 
When plums set too thickly on the fruit spurs and 
when they are not properly thinned by other causes, 



Pollination 



307 



there immediately begins a strenuous struggle for ex- 
istence. There is not room for all. The strongest 
only can survive. The weakest are soon robbed of 
their share of nourishment and are presently literally 
crowded off the stems by their jostling brothers. This 
struggle is severest in the latter part of May and the 
early part of June, and the rejected weaklings figure 
conspicuously in the June drops. The struggle is less 
of course as the setting of plums is smaller and its in- 
tensity is influenced more or less by other causes, as 
food supply and the operation of the two causes of 
drops already considered. 

Leaving aside the drops which immediately follow 
the falling of the blossom and which are not June 
drops, the three causes enumerated usually operate in 
the following order: Non-pollination, struggle for ex- 
istence, curculio work. The effects of the curculio 
work are thus apt to occur after other causes have re- 
duced the crop to what the trees could comfort- 
ably carry. 

The plum grower may therefore leave out of con- 
sideration the struggle for existence. He need not 
worry about non-pollination except in those cases of 
self-sterility and improper adjustment of varieties 
which would come to his attention without reference 
to the June drop. He should, however, give serious 
attention to the curculio, for it is this factor which 
may oftenest reduce a fair crop to none at all. 




XXXII 

Geography and Climatology 



\ Wh ^ I A H KE relationship existing between 
the fruit tree and the cHmate in 
which it Hves is evidently one 
of the most important practical 
and scientific matters connected 
with fruit growing. Yet only 
in a few instances has this rela- 
tionship been carefully investi- 
gated. The only part of this 
series of problems which has received general attention 
is the matter of hardiness. Ever since the beginning 
of tree planting in America, horticulturists have been 
asking, Is this variety hardy? Will it stand our win- 
ters? We have thus accumulated a large mass of 
information on this particular point, most of which, 
however, is totally undigested and incapable of any- 
thing but a local application. 

With respect to the. hardiness of plums, it is to be 
308 




Geography and Climatology 309 

noted that we have greater complications than with 
any other class of fruits, from the fact that the plums 
belong to so many dififerent species, and from the ad- 
ditional fact that these species have been badly mixed 
by natural and artificial hybridization. In a general 
way, however, we understand the capabilities and re- 
quirements of the several groups of varieties ; and these 
requirements may be more definitely stated according 
as a given group is more homogeneous and invariable. 
The Americana group is the most hardy and the 
ChiciCsaws are generally tender in the northern states. 
The general range of the several groups has been indi- 
cated in the separate chapters where those groups are 
discussed, and need be renewed here only in a gen- 
eral way. 

Tv/o years ago the writer made a special investi- 
gation of the hardiness of plums, the results of which 
were published in the eleventh report of the Vermont 
Experiment station. Some of the notes given there 
may be conveniently reproduced here. 

Largely through the aid of expert correspondents, 
statistics were gathered concerning the hardiness of 
representative varieties in the leading groups. These 
are summarized in the following table. 

Notes of hardiness can be best generalized on a 
map, however. If we take up the principal groups in 
order, we shall find it possible to draw certain lines of 
northern limit, which indicate in a rough way the hor- 
ticultural range of the varieties. 

Domes tica group. — Taking Lombard as a repre- 
sentative of this group and examining carefully the re- 
ports of correspondents, the results published by the 
experiment stations and horticultural societies, and 
taking practical experience into account, we may safe- 
ly trace the northern limit of Lombard by the upper 
line in the accompanying map. 



TABLE 



GIVING A GENERAL VIEW OF THE HARDINESS OF SEVERAL 
REPRESENTATIVE VARIETIES OF PLUMS AT 
VARIOUS PLACES 

h — ^hardy; hh — half hardy; t — tender 

































o 

s 


c 

C 


•s 

c 


in 


c 

£ 

o 

I 

h 
h 
h 
h 


h 
h 
h 
h 


c 
a; 
■K 

h 
h 
h 
hh 


c 
o 
E 

1 

h 
h 
h 
hh 


o 

1 
c 
O 

h 

hh 
h 
hh 


V 

h 
h 
h 
hh 


1 

h 

hh 
h 
hh 


h 
h 
h 
hh 


1 


Domestica Group 

Lombard 


h 
h 
h 
h 


h 

h 
h 
h 


h 
h 
h 
t 


h 

h 
h 
hh 


hh 


Green Gage 

Damson 


t 
t 


Bradshaw 


t 


Japanese Group 
Abundance 


h 
h 

hh 
t 


h 
h 
h 


h 
h 
h 
t 


h 
h 

hh 
hh 


hh 
h 

t 
t 


h 
h 
h 
t 


h 
h 

hh 
t 


h 
h 

hh 
t 


h 
h 

hh 
t 


hh 
hh 
t 
t 


hh 
hh 
t 

t 


hh 
hh 
hh 
t 


t 
t 


Satsuma 


t 


Kelsey 


t 


Americana Group 

De Soto 


h 
h 
h 

h 
h 


h 
h 
h 

h 
h 


h 
h 
h 

h 
h 


h 
h 
h 

h 

h 


h 
h 
h 

h 
h 


h 
h 
h 

h 
h 


h 
h 
h 

h 
h 


h 
h 
h 

h 

? 


h 


h 


h 
h 
h 

h 
h 


h 
h 
h 

h 
h 


h 




h h 
h h 


h 


Wolf . .' 


h 


Wildgoose Group 

Wildgoose 

Poole Pride 


hh 
hh 


t 
t 


t 

t 


Wayland Group 

Moreman . . . . 


h 

? 


h 
h 


h 
h 


h 
h 


h 
h 


h 

? 


h 
hh 


h 
h? 


h 




h 
hh 


h 
h 




Golden Beauty... 




Chicasaw Group 

Pottawattamie 

Newman 




h 
h 


h 
h 


h 
h 


h 


h 


h 
h 


h 

? 


hh 
t 


t 
t 


h 
hh 


h 

t 


h 
t 







310 



Geography and Climatology 



3" 



Bradshaw seems to be distinctly more tender than 
Lombard, especially in fruit buds, so that its northern 
limit runs considerably to the south of the latter. 
Still, it is sometimes fruited in favorable situations and 
good plum years almost as far north as Lombard. 
Most of the varieties of Pntniis domestica have more 
nearly the hardiness of Lombard. 

The Damsons. — These seem to be hardier than 
Lombard and most others of the Domestica class. In 



f^^r— ~-^ 


^ 

^-'x^ 


m 


\j 


/4C:p'7 


\ \ffAQ5JiA^' '^ 


1 — r 


\^^'? 



Diagram Showing Approximate Northern Limit of the 
Successful Culture of Lombard and Bradshaw Plums. 



fact, Mr. John Craig", formerly Dominion horticul- 
turist, informs me that "in the valley of the lower St. 
Lawrence in northeastern Quebec, where the Damsons 
have been cultivated since the first settlement of the 
country, they have developed a 'botanical variety' with 
a much more extended range northward than the or- 
dinary varieties of Prunus domestica'' 

Japanese group. — The Japanese varieties vary 
greatly in hardiness, and they have not been long 
enough in cultivation in this country to have had their 



312 



Plums and Plum Culture 



limits exactly determined. The general northward 
range of two well-known varieties is shown in the map, 
Kelsey is doubtless the most tender of the com- 
moner varieties. Most of those generally grown ap- 
proach very nearly the hardiness of Burbank. 

Americana group. — These are hardy anywhere 
where agriculture can be practiced. 

Nigra group. — These varieties have the same 
range in cultivation as those of the preceding group. 



1 ^' ^^ 


l->.^ 




^y 


\ 1 


/ 1 


\ ■ — J 


r<7 


'^yK^^^v^ 


w 


kTj— ^ 


^ 


m 


fueeka^-^J 


^ 


-Jj^^P^ 


^ 


^N 


A^ 


L4^ 



Diagram Showing Approximate Northern Limit of the 
Successful Culture of Burbank and Kelsey Plums. 



Wildgoosc group. — Wildgoose, the best-known va- 
riety of the group, has been widely tested and is known 
to succeed fairly well to the south of the line shown 
on the map, on the following page, and to be unreliable 
north of that line. 

Several of the other varieties of this group seem to 
come up to this line fairly well. 

Miner group. — These varieties are almost as hardy 
as the Americanas, but not quite. They succeed as 



Geography and Climatology 313 

far north as Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ontario and 
Vermont. 

Wayland group. — An opinion seems to prevail 
among pomologists that the Wayland-like varieties as 
a whole are somewhat less hardy than those of the bet- 
ter-known Wildgoose group. Statistics give no 
ground for this belief. Several varieties are of south- 
ern origin, and one or two, like the common Golden 
Beauty, appear to be slightly less hardy than Wild- 
seems to be true of Wayland and others. Even Golden 




Diagram Showing Approximate Northern Limit of the 
Successful Culture of Wildgoose and Other Plums. 

be measurably hardier than Wildgoose, and the same 
seems to be true of Wayland and others. Even Golden 
Beauty, which has been growing three years on the 
grounds of the Vermont Experiment station, seems to 
be as hardy here as leading Japanese, Domestica and 
Wildgoose varieties. It seems fair, therefore, for the 
present at least, to let the limit traced for Wildgoose 
stand also for the varieties of the Wayland group. 

Ckicasaw group. — These are generally held to be 
our most tender varieties. Pottawattamie, however. 



314 Plums and Plum Culture 

originated in Iowa, and seems to be reliably hardy in 
the southern part of that state, and in the Champlain 
valley in Vermont. Other varieties, as Newman, are 
hardy well northward in New York and Massachu- 
setts, so that we may fairly say that the group has al- 
most the same northward range as the Wildgoose 
group. 

COMMKRCIAI. RANGE 

If we examine the areas of commercial culture of 
groups and varieties, however, we shall find that they 
bear no close correspondence to the geographical 
ranges. The areas of profitable culture are determined 
by many factors, among which hardiness is not of first 
importance. Frequently a given variety, or a few 
varieties, have a very local favor. They are esteemed 
by a few people in some particular town. In other 
cases, soil conditions, the presence of bodies of water, 
or transportation facilities, determine the culture 
of plums. 

The Domesticas are the leading plums in western 
New York, on the Pacific coast, and in a few back- 
country towns in New England, where nothing newer 
has been fairh' tested. The great prune industry of 
the Pacific slope is dependent wholly on the Domes- 
ticas. Eastward from the Rocky mountains the Do- 
mesticas are of paramount importance only in western 
New York and neighboring areas in upper Ontario 
and Michigan. Here they flourish. Here other plums 
do not seem to thrive. It is surprising how worthless 
some of the best natives seem to be in that section; 
and even the Japanese sorts do not make a creditable 
appearance. This makes the Domesticas all the more 
exclusively the plums of this particular region. 

The Americanas are the principal reliance of the 
dry, cold prairie region of the north-central west, in- 



Geography and Climatology 315 

eluding Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, the Dakotas, 
Manitoba and neighboring areas. They also do well 
in Quebec, Ontario, Vermont and the northeast gen- 
erally, though they do not seem to thrive with quite 
the same fervor as in the region just described. Per- 
haps this is because less attention has been given 
to them. 

The Wildgoose varieties are favorites in many 
central and south-central parts of the continent. The 
Chicasaws are commercially profitable in some of 
the southern states. Varieties of the Wayland class 
are less well known, but are especially adapted to cer- 
tain parts of Texas, Alabama and other southern 
states. They have been favorably reported from Mary- 
land and Missouri. 

In general it seems safe to say that each locality 
will be best served by some few varieties, and that 
these will succeed much better than others. The 
problems of variety adaptation in plum culture are 
more intricate and appear to be more local than with 
any other group of fruits. This means, in practical 
application, that the plum amateur must be more of an 
experimentalist than the ordinary horticukurist; and 
also that the beginner must pay more close attention 
to the varieties which have proved successful in his 
own locality and give little heed to reports of success 
or failure in other parts of the country. 

PHENOLOGY 

Some of the most curious and valuable points 
connected with the relationship of fruit trees to their 
climatic environment are those connected with the 
seasons of blossoming, leafing and ripening. The im- 
portance of a careful study of blossoming seasons is 
explained in the chapter on pollination; and season 



3i6 Plums and Plum Culture 

of maturity is always understood to be of great practi- 
cal consequence. All these things have a definite re- 
lationship to climatic conditions; and it seems probable 
that any one phenomenon, like the blossoming of 
Abundance, or the maturity of Green Gage, might be 
so 'carefully studied as to discover just what the con- 
ditions are on which it is dependent. The trouble is 
that no such case has ever been sufficiently studied. 
It seems probable that the sum total of heat received 
from the air, more than anything else, determines when 
a given tree shall open its blossoms or mature its fruit. 
But tills is too complicated a question for discus- 
sion here."^ 

Before leaving this subject finally, however, it 
will be interesting to note that the same plant will be- 
have differently in different climates. With plum 
trees this is most noticeable in the relative seasons of 
flowering and leafage. In southern latitudes the flow- 
ers appear before the leaves, often when the leaf buds 
are scarce bursting. The leaves come on one, two or 
even three weeks later. In northern latitudes, on the 
other hand, flowers and leaves come out together. In 
some cases the first leaves may be seen nearly full 
grown on the same twigs with the freshly-expanded 
flowers. This difference may be observed in any va- 
riety. It sometimes proves puzzling to the pomolo- 
gist who tries to identify a tree in one locality from 
his experience with the same variety in a different 
latitude. 



*The author has given a general view of this svibject, with certain 
computations, in Vermont Experiment station Report, 11:263. 1898. 




XXXIII 

Diseases of the Plum 




LUM trees and fruit are subject to 
several diseases, of which only 
a few are of special seriousness. 
The w^orst ones are ripe rot 
(monilia) and black knot. 
These vary greatly in virulence 
according to season, weather, 
locality and varieties. Reason- 
able care will prevent serious 
damage by any of them. 

Ripe rot (Monilia fnictigcua). — This is a fungous 
disease which shows most conspicuously in the rotting 
of the fruit at ripening time or just before; but it also 
attacks the twigs and young growth of the trees, do- 
ing equal or greater damage there. When this rot 
occurs on ripening fruit, the skin turns black or brown 
and is finally covered, partially or wdiolly, by small 
pustules or little bunches of spores, somewhat smaller 
than the head of a pin. 

317 



3i8 Plums and Plum Culture 

At blossoming time, however, one may frequent- 
ly find bnds and blossoms and sometimes young leaves, 
blackened as though struck by frost. This usually 
proves to be the work of the monilia. The buds and 
fruit spurs are sometimes entirely killed in early spring 
and are often seriously weakened. 

When the twigs, buds and fruit spurs are attacked 
in this way, there often ensues a sort of gummosis. 
There will be found exuding from the buds and from 
the axils of the spurs small masses of white gum, look- 
ing very much like those found on fruit attacked by 
curculio. In bad cases the monilia and the gummosis 
together kill the twigs and younger branches al- 
together. 

The most conspicuous damage caused by this 
fungus is that on the fruit. If the weather happens to 
be damp and warm — *'muggy" — toward ripening time, 
the rot proceeds with terrible rapidity, destroying ten, 
twenty or fifty per cent, of the crop in a single day. 
What is even worse, the fruit rots after picking, so 
that plums sent to market in perfectly sound condition 
may arrive at their destination a day or two later so 
badly spoiled as to be wholly unsalable. This latter 
feature of the trouble may be minimized by careful 
sorting at the time of packing, taking care that no 
plums which show the rot are put in, and prompt 
shipment with good ventilation. First-class cold stor- 
age will also delay the progress of the rot to a consid- 
erable extent, but will not wholly stop it. 

The disease is caused by a fungus, as has already 
been said. The spores of this fungus gain access to 
the tree very early in spring, at the time the buds 
start, or even before. They lodge in the bud scales of 
the leaf and flower buds, germinate there and quickly 
penetrate the tissues of the twig itself. It will readily 
be seen that any remedy tp be effective must be used 



Diseases of the Plum 319 

before the fungus becomes estabhshed within the tis- 
sues of the plant. The best treatment, in fact, is to 
spray very thoroughly with strong bordeaux mixture 
or pure blue vitriol solution early in the spring, just 
before the buds start. These two points are to be in- 
sisted on, — thorough early spraying with a strong so- 
lution. The mixture can be much stronger than that 
used in summer, for at the time of this spraying there 
are no leaves out and consequently there is no danger 
of damage to foliage. 

Toward the close of the blossoming season the 
trees should be carefully examined. If there are dead, 
dying and discolored flowers, blackened fruit spurs, 
spots of gummosis and other indications of the work 
of the monilia, another spraying is necessary. 

In general it may be said that two or three spray- 
ings with bordeaux mixture are necessary in dealing 
with this disease. Two should be given in any case, as 
directed above, and three should be given if the dis- 
ease is especially threatening. Inasmuch as these 
three, or more, sprayings give equal opportunity for 
combating several other fungous pests and certain in- 
sect enemies, the plum grower has the greater reason 
to be prompt and thorough. 

It should be noted here, though it is mentioned 
elsewhere, that bordeaux mixture used on plum trees 
after they are in leaf must be weaker than that usually 
rcommended for apple trees. Damage from strong 
bordeaux mixture is especially apt to occur on Japan- 
ese plums. 

When for lack of spraying, or in spite of spray- 
ing, the disease runs its course, the visible evidences of 
it remain in blackened twigs and rotted fruit. The 
fruits which fall to the ground rot or dry there, while 
the fungus which has killed them matures innumerable 
spores for the perpetuation of the species. Frequently 



320 Plums and Plum Culture 

the diseased fruits do not fall from the trees, but shrivel 
and blacken and remain hanging to the dead or dying 
fruit spur all the winter through. These mummied 
fruits are perfect masses of fungus spores. 

The dark-colored spores formed at this season are 
able to live over winter in perfect condition for the re- 
newal of the fungous growth the succeeding spring. It 
becomes an important preventive measure, therefore, to 
destroy these spore-infested mummied fruits, the rotted 
fruits on the ground, and the dead twigs in the tree. 
The dead parts should be cut out and burned; and the 
dried or rotted fruits should be carefully gathered and 
likewise cremated. This is important and worth while. 
Such treatment followed by proper spraying will prac- 
tically eliminate the monilia from the list of plum 
troubles. 

The same disease works on peaches, apricots and 
cherries. It is desirable, therefore, in treating plums, 
to extend the same preventive and remedial measures 
to all other stone fruits in the same orchard. 

Black knot. — This disease, which rejoices in the 
scientific name of Plozvrightia morhosa, is especially 
bad in neglected orchards, and in trees growing along 
roadsides. In these trees, outside cultivation, it fairly 
revels. Here it breeds, and from here it spreads to 
neighboring orchards. It occurs on all sorts of plums 
(contrary to the .statements of the tree peddler), some- 
times on the cherry, and often on wild trees of black 
cherry and choke cherry. 

It is worse on some varieties of plums than on 
others, but this difference is not marked. When the 
Japanese plums were all novelties in this country it 
was freely claimed that they were proof against black 
knot. They are not. They are, perhaps, less suscep- 
tible to its attacks than some other plums are ; but this 
difference of susceptibility is not sufficiently marked 



Diseases of the Plum 321 

to be of any practical consequence. Perhaps the Dam- 
sons and the slower-growing Domesticas in general 
are most easily affected by the black knot; but neither 
is this difference of susceptibility great enough to in- 
fluence the man who plants plum trees. 

Black knot is, in fact, not a serious matter in the 
plum orchard. Plum trees which are tended, even 
moderately, will seldom suffer from it. Occasionally 
the season seems to be especially favorable to the 
spread of this disease and an harassing outbreak oc- 
curs; but this is seldom the case. 

The knots or warts on the plum trees are caused 
by a fungus, although many persons suppose the cause 
to be an insect. This fungus grows within the tissues 
of the branches and twigs, but breaks through in early 
spring, causing the familiar warty appearance. These 
warts are at first yellowish; but during May or June 
they turn a darker greenish color and become shining 
and velvety. This velvety appearance is caused by 
an immense crop of spores which entirely cover the 
exposed portions of the wart. These spores are most- 
ly soon distributed, carrying the infection to new trees 
and new branches. They usually lodge in the crotches 
of small branches, or in the axils of leaves or fruit 
spurs. Here they germinate and soon penetrate the 
woody tissue, giving rise, next year, to new warts. 

Later in the fall the knots will be found to have 
turned a dull black. On close examination they show 
a fine granular surface. This is caused by the pres- 
ence of another crop of spores. These late spores are 
thick-skinned and resistant to the weather. They live 
over winter and are able to originate new warts in 
the spring. 

Besides the late spores, the fungus has another 

■ resource for carrying itself over the winter. The 

mycelium, that portion which grows inside the woody 



322 Plums and Plum Culture 

tissue, does not all die when winter comes; but a part 
of it may retain its viability and go on growing the 
following spring. These facts indicate clearly enough 
the course of treatment which must be followed. 

The first and best remedy is the pruning knife. 
This should be applied to every branch which shows 
a knot, and the application should be made at the first 
moment when the knot is discovered. Moreover, the 
knot ought to be discovered before November. That 
is, the plum grower should keep careful watch of his 
orchard throughout the summer and should cut out 
every knot as soon as it appears. In well-tended or- 
chards this labor never becomes burdensome. It is 
good practice in cutting out knots to cut some distance 
below the knots, say two to six inches, depending on 
the size of the branch, its situation on the trunk, the 
virulence of the attack, etc. When knots are cut out 
they should be promptly burned. 

Large knots which sometimes appear on the 
trunks of trees or on the main branches, are more dif- 
ficult of treatment. Sometimes it is feasible to cut 
them out with a sharp knife, after which the wound 
is first seared by an application of pure kerosene and 
afterward protected by a coating of grafting wax. In 
case the removal of the knot is impracticable, it should 
be heavily painted with pure kerosene. This treatment 
may be best given during the growing season. If fol- 
lowed by spraying as directed below, this treatment 
will sometimes suffice to save trees after the appear- 
ance of the largest knots. Spraying, properly con- 
ducted, is an important preventive measure; and is 
probably worth more in the long run than the knife 
treatment. 

It will be remembered that there are two crops of 
spores to be guarded against. The winter spores are 
usually clinging to the bark in the spring, awaiting the 



Diseases of the Plum 323 

first convenient occasion to germinate and penetrate 
the tissues. A thorough spraying with strong bor- 
deaux mixture before the buds start will kill many or 
most of them, — perhaps all. Lodeman, who made a 
special study of this disease, recommends two early 
sprayings, one "during the warm days of early spring 
before growth starts, and again when the buds are 
about to burst." 

The summer spores are mature during May or 
June; and one or two sprayings should then be given 
to kill them. One spraying will be enough in all or- 
dinary cases; but in cases where it is desired to stamp 
out the disease after it has gained considerable head- 
way, two sprayings can be well afforded. 

It will be noticed that the two main sprayings 
here directed for black knot coincide exactly with the 
two main sprayings advised for the monilia. It is 
very true that the provident plum grower who gives 
this treatment "kills two birds with one stone" (ex- 
cept that in this case there are more than two, as will 
appear in succeeding paragraphs). 

Shot-hole, or Leaf-spot. — This disease has been 
extensively studied from the mycological side, but 
seems to have received very inadequate attention by 
the fruit growers.* 

Like most of the others, it is caused by a fungus. 

*The principal papers relating to the shot-hole fungus are as follow? : 

J. C. Arthur, New York State Experiment station Report, 6:347- 
350. 1887. 

Roland Thaxter, Connecticut Experiment station Report, 1889, page 
176. Same 1890, page 102. 

W. J. Green, Ohio Experiment station Bulletin II, 4:216. 1891. 

D. G. Fairchild, United States Division of Vegetable Pathology Bul- 
letin 6:39-40. 1894. Journal Mycolog\% 7:253-256. New York State 
Experiment station Report, 11:659. 1892. United States Division of 
\'egetable Pathology Bulletin 3:63. 1892. 

S. A. Beach, New York State Experiment station Report, 12:688-693. 
1893. New York State Experiment station Bulletin 98. New York State 
Experiment station Bulletin 116. 

L. H. Pammel, Iowa Experiment station Bulletin 30:289-301. 



3^4 



Plums and Plum Culture 



The particular fungus concerned in the leaf-spot has 
been called Cylindrosporium padi. The trouble usually 
begins to appear in the orchard early, or at about the 




SHOT-HOLE FUNGUS 



time the first leaves have put out. The leaves take on 
an unhealthy look. They begin to show small discol- 
ored spots. These dots are yellowish toward the cen- 
ter and commonly have rather reddish margins. They 



Diseases of the Plum 315 

gradually enlarge, reaching a diameter of about an 
eighth of an inch. They then turn darker, the tissues 
wither, and the entire center usually falls out of the 
spot, leaving a clean, round hole, which looks as 
though made with shot from a shotgun. Either the 
discolored dots with their concentric rings, or the 
round shot-holes are sufficiently characteristic to en- 
able anyone to recognize the disease at once. 

Experiments have repeatedly shown the ame- 
nability of this disease to treatment with the ordinary 
fungicides. Beach has proved that bordeaux mixture, 
however, is considerably superior to any other solution 
in general use. As the result of his extended and 
thorough experiments he recommends the following 
course of treatment: "When but two treatments are 
to be made during the season, let the first be given 
about ten days after the blossoms fall, that is, usually 
about May 25 [at Geneva, N. Y.] . It should not be 
later than June i. Make the second treatment about 
three w^eeks after the first. Better results may be ex- 
pected from, three treatments, and three treatments are 
especially recommended in seasons when the disease is 
very abundant. Make them as follows: First, about 
ten days after the blossoms fall; second, about three 
weeks after the first; third, from three to four weeks 
after the second." 

Pockets, Bladders, or Curl. — The various troubles 
going imder the names of plum pockets, bladders, leaf 
curl, etc., are m.ostly very closely allied. They are 
caused by fungi. These fungi all belong to the genus 
Exoascns fTaphn'na) ; but there are, according to the 
mycologists, several species.* 

*Atkinson gives the fullest account of these fungi which has been 
published in this country. He does not take up the practical question of 
combating them, however. See Cornell Experiment station Bulletin 73. 
1894- 



S26 



Plums and Plum Culture 



The fruit, the leaves and the young shoots are 
attacked. Diseased fruits turn yellow, later grayish 
and finally brown or black. At the same time the fruit 
swells, becomes puffed up and hollow, and often rat- 
tles when shaken. These are the plum bladders. 

The leaves when attacked become curled, distorted 
and strangely misshapen. They also assume a more 
or less yellowish color. The shoots are also attacked 
in frequent instances. They usually become swollen, 
puffed up, hollow, and turn a light greenish-yellow. 
Sometimes they are twisted, curled and greatly dis- 




PLUM POCKETS 



torted. Growth is stopped and the deformed shoot 
with its distorted leaves forms a characteristic and un- 
sightly rosette. 

The fungus is perennial, living over in the tissues 
of the plant. This circumstance adds to the difficulty 
of treatment. All species of plums are attacked, and 
probably all species of cherries. The peach is subject 
to the same trouble also. 

In the way of treatment, nothing can be very pos- 
itively recommended. It is obviously best to remove 
all fruits, leaves and twigs as soon as they show the 
disease, and burn them to prevent the maturation and 
distribution of the spores. This much perhaps may be 
insisted on. Further than this, spraying seems to 
promise some results. Bordeaux mixture will doubt- 



Diseases of the Plum 



3^7 



less kill the spores, whenever it comes in contact with 
them, and will, by so much, check the spread of the 
disease. Lodeman tentatively recommends spraying 
with bordeaux mixture when the buds begin to sw^ell 
and again just before the blossoms open. These two 
sprayings correspond with others already recommend- 
ed. It seems probable also that spraying at the time 
when the crop of summer spores is ripe, — i. e., in May 





PLUM SCAB 



or June, just when the bladders turn gray, — would 
have a salutary effect. 

Scab. — Plums are subject to the attacks of a fun- 
gus which causes a scabbing of the fruits. These 
scabs are usually confined to small approximately cir- 
cular areas, which turn gray or brownish and seem 
to be encrusted with thin dried fiakes of skin. I have 
observed it mostly upon thin-skinned varieties of the 
Chicasaw, Wildgoose and Wayland groups, though 
it seems to occur on all sorts of plums. The scab is 



328 Plums and Plum Culture 

caused by a fungus, known to science as Cladosporium 
carpophilum. 

No definite experiments seem to have been made 
in the control oL this scab except by Chester, who 
worked upon peaches.* He reports that early and re- 
peated sprayings with bordeaux mixture are effective. 
Craig has also reported success in the use of bordeaux 
mixture. It seems probable that the general prophy- 
lactic treatment with bordeaux mixture recommended 
repeatedly in this chapter will overcome this disease in 
common with nearly all the others of fungous origin 
which attack the plum. 

Leaf rust. — The leaf rust of the plum appears to 
have received little notice from horticulturists, and the 
mycologists have paid small attention to it except to 
place it in their lists. Hedrick thought it to be of 
economic importance in Oregon,t and Pierce made 
experiments in its treatment on the Pacific coast. The 
present writer has observed it in great abundance on 
several species of wild plums and on some cultivated 
varieties in Oklahoma. In that country it seems to be 
especially virulent, and, apparently, may easily come to 
be of practical consequence. The rust appears on the 
leaves, usually on the under sides, late in the summer. 

Fairchild t recommends bordeaux mixture for this 
disease. Pierce § secured good results from the use of 
an ammoniacal copper carbonate solution; but it is 
probable that the bordeaux mixture would have done 
at least as well. It seems fair to expect that the care- 
ful use of bordeaux mixture during the early part of 



*F. D. Chester, Delaware Experiment station Report (1896), 
pages 60-63. 

tU. P. Hedrick, Oregon Experiment station Bulletin 45:67. 1897. 

$D. G. FairchiKi, Bordeaux Mixture as a Fungicide, United States 
Department of Agriculture, Division Vegetable Pathology, Bulletin 6. 

§N. B. Pierce, Journal of Mycology, 7:354-363. 1894. This is the 
fullest account of the plum rust extant. 



Diseases of the Plum 329 

the growing season would reduce the plum-leaf rust 
to a minimum, 

Flyspcck fungus. — I have several times observed, 
especially on plums sent me from the southern states, 
small areas thickly dotted with small black spots, look- 
ing very much like small flyspecks. I have seen these 
on nearly all the common species of plums, including 
Primus americana, Primus maritima, and the Wayland, 
Wildgoose and Miner groups. Occasionally the black, 
specky appearance -becomes so conspicuous as to at- 
tract the eye and tO' detract from the appearance of 
the fruit. It might possibly make a lot unsalable, 
though I have never known it to become so severe. 

Specimens were examined by my colleague, Pro- 
fessor L. R. Jones, who pronounces them of fungus 
origin. The little dots are made up of masses of 
branching dark-colored hyphae. This fungus is re- 
garded by Professor Jones as being probably identical 
with the one which causes the flyspeck on the apple. 

If this trouble should ever become of economic 
importance, it would be worth while to try treating it 
with bordeaux mixture. 

Plionia. — What seems to be an entirely different 
fruit-spot is mentioned and illustrated by Bailey, who 
gives the following account of it:* "A fruit-spot has 
been sent to me by T. V. Munson, Denison, Texas, on 
the Golden Beauty. The disease is said to be serious 
in some 3^ears. It does not injure the fruit greatly ex- 
cept to disfigure it and to render it unmarketable. I 
submiitted the specimens to Professor J. E. Humphrey 
of the Massachusetts agricultural college, who found 
the disease to be a phoma, but the exact species could 
not be determined. It is, no doubt, somewhat allied 
to the black rot of the grape, and the treatment used 

*L. H. Bailey, Cornell Experiment station Bulletin 38:56. 1892. 



?,3^ 



Plums and Plum Culture 




SUNSCALD OF PLUM TREE 

for grapes should be tried upon the plum" This 
disease has not been observed by the present writer. 

Powdery mildew. — This disease is found on ap- 
ples, pears, cherries, plums and several other fruits. 



Diseases of the Plum 331 

It IS seldom destructive on plums, however. Not a 
single serious case of its work has come to the 
knowledge of the writer. The powdery mildew can be 
easily controlled by spraying with fungicides. 

Lichens sometimes appear on plum trees in quan- 
tity, especially in the southern states. They are un- 
sightly, but whether they do any direct damage or not 
is an open question. Bordeaux mixture will keep 
trees free from lichens. 

SunscaJd. — Plum trees are subject to sunscald, to 
just the same extent that other fruit trees are, and no 
more. Sunscald is a very serious matter in some parts 
of the country, especially in the southwestern states. 
The danger from sunburning is well understood by 
orchardists in that country, and well-studied precau- 
tions are taken to avoid damage. In some other sec- 
tions of the country the seriousness of sunscalding is 
not fully appreciated; and many trees are lost which 
might have been saved by a little foresight. The scald 
is especially disastrous when, as sometimes happens, 
it is followed by borers. Tn fact, the scalding of a tree 
leaves the way open for the attack of all sorts 
of parasites. 

Sunscald is worse on dry, sandy land, and on 
southwestern exposures. It is most prevalent in the 
southern and southwestern states, where, in some 
places, it may fairly be counted the orchardists' worst 
enemy. 

The precautions to be exercised against sunscald 
are good cultivation and low heading of the trees. The 
latter is the more obviously important, and is always 
properly recommended. Gobd cultivation is more im- 
portant as a protection from sunscald than is usually 
supposed. The scalding does not come chiefly from 
the direct action of the sun, but rather more from the 



332 Plums and Plum Culture 

heat reflected from the soil. Everyone knows that 
the reflection is much less from newly-turned, well- 
pulverized, loose-lying soil, than from hard, smooth, 
compacted earth. Moreover, good cultivation keeps 
up a thrifty growth in the trees, and enables them to 
resist the effects of the sun much better. It may be 
noted in any orchard that the unthrifty, half-dead trees 
show the first and worst cases of sunscald. 

After a tree is once sunscalded there is always 
considerable difficuUy in remedying the damage. In 
extreme cases the shortest, simplest and best procedure 
is to cut the tree down and replace it with a new one. 
Trees badly scalded should not be sacrificed, however, 
until it appears clearly that their usefulness is at an 
end. vScalded trees often continue to bear good crops 
for several years, and, at worst, the scald is not con- 
tagious. Trees which are only slightly damaged can 
usually be reclaimed. The best method is as follows: 
Clean away first all scaly, dead bark, and remove all 
lichens and insects. Then apply grafting wax or some 
suitable protective and antiseptic material. Lastly, 
give whatever protection may be necessary from fur- 
ther sun damage. This may consist in placing a board 
shield in place, tying on papers, or in the adoption of 
such other expedient as may seem most feasible to the 
practical orchardist. 

Gitmmosis. — Every man who grows stone fruits, 
peaches, cherries or plums, has often marked with in- 
terest, usually with doubt, and sometimes with sorrow, 
the accumulations of gum. on the trunks and branches. 
This gum at first appears whitish and clear, almost 
transparent. After a time it becomes discolored, 
darker. It may accumulate in large quantities at cer- 
tain points, as at a crotch partly split by the wind. 
Usually it is in comparatively small patches and 
nodules here and there through the tree. It is most 



Diseases of the Plum 333 

conspicuous on the tree trunks; but may be found on 
the small twigs and fruit spurs, and even on the fruit. 

Many fruit growers have the notion that this gum- 
ming is caused by some insect. Some attribute it di- 
rectly to the borer. Others suspect fungi or bacteria 
of being the cause of the trouble. According to the 
best information now at hand, all these suppositions 
are partly right and partly wrong. 

It seems that the cell walls in the several tissues 
of the stone fruits are peculiarly apt to break down or 
disintegrate. Just what may be the chemical nature 
of this change need not now concern us. But at any 
rate the substance of these cell walls becomes semi- 
fluid and exudes as the white gum first noticed by the 
orchardist. This soon absorbs water, swells, and finally 
becomes discolored after exposure to the air, rains, etc. 

This disintegration of the cell walls is incited by 
any sort of mechanical or physiological injury to the 
tissues. Splitting of the branches from wind, or over- 
bearing, abrasions from single-tree or hames, bruises 
from hailstones, the excavations of borers, freezing of 
the treeS; are common mechanical causes. The com- 
monest fungous origin of gummosis is in the attacks of 
the fruit rot or monilia. This disease seems to injure 
the tissues in such a way as to be especially favorable 
to the formation of gum. Improper methods of cul- 
tivation have also been assigned, with some show of 
reason, as a cause in certain cases. Some writers on 
the subject charge the trouble in more general terms 
to weakened vitality. This phrase does not mean 
much; and it is doubtful if it has much basis in fact, 
aside from the various more nearly ultimate causes 
mentioned above. Beach concludes* that ''the exces- 



*S. A. Beach, Gumming of Stone Fruits, American Gardening, 19:606. 
August 2T, 1898. This is the most important recent contribution to the 
gubject in America. 



334 



Plums and Plum Culture 



sive production of gum which is popularly looked upon 
as a disease and called gumming, is not a specific dis- 
ease, for it is characteristic of many troubles of stone 
fruits and other plants." 




CANKER OF BRANCHES OF SATSUMA 



On plums and also on peaches this gummosis, 
following monilia, leads to a sort of canker. The ex- 
udation of gum, especially at some point where the 
fungus has severely attacked a fruit spur or small leaf 
spray, results finally in an open wound. This does 



Diseases of the Plum ^^t,^ 

not heal for a long time. Often it never does. The 
diseased portion seems rather to increase in area. The 
margins are raised, blackened, with a hard, scaly sur- 
face. In the middle of such a wound will often be 
found the dead stub of the branch from which the trou- 
ble started. A better idea of the appearance of this 
canker may be gained from the accompanying illus- 
stration, p. 334. This trouble, which is occasionally 
serious with peaches, does not seem to be so common 
with plums. The worst cases that I have observed 
were on Satsuma trees. 

The Japanese varieties are undoubtedly the most 
susceptible. The Americana species all have harder, 
tougher, closer-grained wood, less subject to mechan- 
ical injury and less subject to gummosis. Still, I have 
observed incipient cases of the canker here described 
on trees of Whitaker, Strawberry and a few other na- 
tive sorts. In some instances the branches are so much 
weakened by this canker that they break ofif readily in 
the wind or under moderate loads of fruit. This com- 
pletes the chain of troubles; — monilia, gummosis, can- 
ker, breakdown. 

Gummosis is apparently always a secondary mat- 
ter. The way to treat it, then, is to get at the primary 
cause. If due to borers, apply the remedy for borers. 
If due to overbearing, thin the fruit. If due to bruises 
from the single-tree, discharge the hired man. If due 
to monilia, spray. The last is perhaps the most impor- 
tant cause and the most practical remedy. 

Curl-leaf, or Sunburn. — These have been de- 
scribed as separate troubles: but they appear to be 
closely related, if not identical. The curl-leaf has been 
described by Hedrick,* who found it characteristic 
of the Italian Prune in Oregon and other parts of the 



*U. p. Hedrick, Oregon Experiment station Bulletin 45:72. 1897. 



^^6 Plums and Plum Culture 

Pacific coast region. Tlie sunburn is described by 
Tourney as occurring in Arizona. Speaking of what 
he calls curl-leaf, Hedrick says : "Beginning in mid- 
summer, the leaves begin to curl conduplicately with- 
out withering, but shriveling somewhat. As the sea- 
son advances the leaves become a yellowish brown and 
many of them drop. It affects practically all the Italian 
Prune trees, there being but rarely a tree that escapes. 
As far as I can learn, all other varieties are exempt. 
In some orchards the trees are almost wholly stripped 
of their foliage." 

Although definite experiments in the treatment of 
this disease, or these diseases, do not seem to have 
been made, the practical treatment of them is very 
strongly hinted at in the foregoing paragraphs. Treat- 
ment must be preventive rather than remedial. 
Measures likely to prevent the appearance of sunburn 
or curl-leaf are proper cultivation, keeping the soil in 
good mechanical texture, aeration of the soil, proper 
drainage, proper irrigation, and the preservation of 
vigorous, healthy foliage by timely spraying. 

Single-free disease. — This malady I have observed 
in nearly every orchard I ever visited. With unimpor- 
tant exceptions it is always caused by the hired man. 
It seems to be quite impossible to prevent his ravages. 
There are times when it seems to be his chief aim in 
life to drive the plow or cultivator in such a manner as 
to insure the effective skinning of the trees by the 
single-tree. 

There seems to be no satisfactory preventive of 
this trouble, unless the owner is able to plow and culti- 
vate his own orchard with a well-trained team. Short 
single-trees, with leather sheaths at the ends of the 
tugs, will reduce the damage to some extent. Har- 
nesses which do av/ay with hames and single-tree are 
highly recommended, and are doubtless very useful. 



Diseases of the Plum 



337 



Under this head may be 
grouped several quite similar 
mechanical injuries. Some- 
times they are caused by the 
hames; sometimes by the hub 
of the manure cart; sometimes 
by the ladder of a careless 
picker. 

Such wounds are to be 
smoothed with a sharp pruning 
knife and, where practicable, 
should be dressed with a good 
coating of grafting wax. In 
cases of extreme damage, and 
when the tree is especially val- 
uable, an attempt may be made 
to graft new pieces of bark over 
the wound. This can best be 
done in late summer, at bud- 
ding time, when the bark peels 
easily; but, though more dif- 
ficult of performance in the spring, the work has a fair 
chance of success if carefully performed then. Full 
directions for doing this work are given in the para- 
graph on mice in the next chapter. 

22 




SINGLE-TREE DISEASE 




XXXIV 



Insects and Other Enemies 




Tl HE CURCULIO.— This Is by 
far the worst insect enemy of 
the plum. The curcuUo (Con- 
otrachelus nenuphar) is a small 
insect of the snout-beetle fam- 
ily. It is a little less than a 
quarter of an inch long, rough 
and grayish or almost black. 
The female begins to lay her 
eggs In the young fruit as soon as it is formed and con- 
tinues at her nefarious business for ten days to a 
month, depending on circumstances, chiefly the 
weather. She punctures the skin of the plum with her 
snout, and in the puncture she lays her e^g. In front 
of the puncture she cuts a small crescent-shaped gash, 
which is supposed to prevent the crushing of the ten- 
der egg by the swelling of the growing fruit. The egg 
hatches In from three days to a week, and the small 

338 



Insects and Other Enemies 



339 



white larva or grub begins to feed inside the plum. 
Usually it penetrates to the stone, where it feeds upon 
the surrounding flesh; or it may even gnaw into the 
young, soft pit. 

The work of the beetle may be first detected by 
the crescent-shaped marks in the skin of the fruit; but 
as soon as the larva begins to feed, small drops of whit- 
ish gum can be seen exuding at the point of puncture. 
Fruits attacked by the curculio usually drop sooner 
or later. This dropping from the curculio's work con- 
tinues throughout the season, as one plum and another 




THE PLUM CURCULIO, Magnified 



succumb to their injuries. A few plums may hang on 
till picked, though two or three larvae may be at work 
in them. The principal season of ''plum drop" from 
curculio damage, however, occurs when the fruit is 
about half grown. 

The curculio seem.s to prefer thin-skinned plums; 
but it is more partial to some varieties than others 
without regard to the thickness of their skins. Many 
nurserymen of more or less conscience have offered, 
from time to time, many *'curculio-proof" varieties of 
plums. Nevertheless, it is well known to-day that no 



340 Plums and Plum Culture 

such thing exists in fact. At the present day plum 
growers rely chiefly on other preventive or remedial 
measures and pay little attention to the selection of 
the "curculio-proof" varieties. 

Spraying may prevent damage by the curculio to 
a considerable extent. The beetles eat the leaves and 
buds and fruit, and hence it is thought that they can 
be poisoned. The trees should be sprayed with paris 
green, about one pound to lOO gallons of water, just 
before flowering. Another spraying should be given 
a week after the blossoms fall. If bordeaux mixture 
is used for the fruit-rot, leaf-spot, or other diseases, 




JOHNSON'S CURCULIO CATCHER 

the paris green may be added to it and applied at the 
same spraying. 

One of the best preventive measures is that of 
jarring the trees and catching the beetles as they fall. 
This is sometimes done in an inverted umbrella, or 
upon a sheet spread on the ground; but many better 
arrangements have been devised. Several curculio 
catchers are manufactured and held for sale, more or 
less covered by patents. The general type of such 
machines is shown in the accompanying figure of 
Johnson curculio catcher. 

The principal feature of all these machines is the 



Insects and Other Enemies 



341 



large canvas spread, which catches the dropping in- 
sects when the trees are jarred. There is a sHt in the 
front side of the canvas funnel, which permits the en- 
trance of the tree trnnk. This brings the trunk ap- 
proximately into the middle of the funnel and spreads 
the sheet so as to catch the curculios from all the 
branches. 

If the ground under plum trees is smooth and 
hard, the beetles may sometimes be shaken directly 




FRAME FOR CURCULIO CATCHER 

Recommended by Goff 

onto the earth and swept up. Sometimes the ground 
is paved with stones for this purpose. There used to 
be a notion extant (vide earlier editions of Downing) 
that plums were free from curculio on heavy clay soil. 
This is not so; but it probably had its origin in the 
comparative ease with which the beetles are destroyed 
on hard ground. 

Where a few plum trees are grown near the farm 
buildings, it is sometimes practicable to place them 



342 Plums and Plum Culture 

in the chicken yard. The chickens usually keep the 
ground bare underneath the trees and also eat a con- 
siderable number of the beetles and larvae which fall 
to the ground. This is not an ideal way to grow plum 
trees, however. 

The Phnn-tree Aphis. — This aphis is sometimes 
very troublesome. It attacks the young shoots, es- 
pecially the under sides of the tender leaves, and sucks 
out the juices until the leaves curl, the shoots wither, 
and growth may be practically stopped. In extreme 
cases young trees are even killed. 

It is difficult to control. Paris green and similar 
poisons will not harm it, for the simple reason that 
they are applied to the outside of the leaf, while the 
aphis sucks its liquid food from the inside. Something 
must be applied to the insect itself which kills it by 
contact, or smothers it by covering or clogging its 
breathing holes, or which effectually disturbs or dis- 
lodges it. 

Tobacco water is one of the best of these contact 
insecticides. Tobacco stems can be bought of all 
seedsm.en and dealers in horticultural supplies at rea- 
sonable prices, usually about $1.50 a hundred pounds 
or $20 a ton. These should be steeped in boiling water 
to make a strong decoction, which should be vigorous- 
ly applied to the insects with a sprayer. More than 
one application will usually be necessary; but, if per- 
severed in, this treatment will prove efficacious. 

Kerosene emulsion is very generally used, and 
has many points of advantage. It is applied with the 
usual spraying machines, unless one has at hand some 
of the specially constructed sprayers for mixing kero- 
sene with water. If the ordinary kerosene emulsion is 
to be used, it may be made up according to the follow- 
ing directions: Take one pound of hard soap (prefer- 
ably whale-oil soap), two gallons of boiling water, and 



Insects and Other Enemies 



343 



four gallons of kerosene. Churn these well together 
by pouring or pumping for fifteen or twenty minutes. 
When ready to use, add sixty to one hundred gallons 
of water. This recipe can be halved or quartered, if 
smaller quantities of the emulsion are needed. There 
are several other formulas for making the emulsion, 
but all give about the same results. Two or three ap- 
plications of the kerosene emulsion will probably be 
required to clear out the aphis. Care must be taken 
not to make it too strong, for sometimes it damages 
the young shoots more than do the insects. 

The Phtm Lecanium scale. — This plum scale (Le- 
canium pnmastri) occasionally gives trouble. Slinger- 




THE PLUM LECANIUM SCALE 



land relates that in 1894 in one orchard of over 2000 
trees in New York, ''one-fourth of the immense crop 
was not worth picking and most of the remainder was 
badly damaged." These scales may readily be seen 
at any time on the twigs and branches. Their general 
appearance is plainly indicated in the cut. This 
pest can be combated to best advantage during the 
winter, when it should be sprayed two or three times 
with strong kerosene emulsion. 

The San Jose scale (Aspidotus perniciosus). — This 
scale insect attacks plum trees, in common with nearly 
all other fruits. So much has been said and sung about 
this special pest of late, however, that no general ac- 



344 Plums and Plum Culture 

count of it need be given here. It may be said briefly 
that the San Jose scale is amenable to proper treat- 
ment, and not more difficult of extermination than 
many other insect pests. Kerosene emulsion, whale- 
oil soap, kerosene and water, crude petroleum, or pure 
kerosene will kill it if thoroughly applied. 

Borers sometimes attack plum trees, but not so 
frequently as apples and pears. The peach-tree borer, 
which is quite a different insect from the species work- 
ing on apples, also attacks plums.* The damage from 
borers is sometimes serious; but seldom so except m 
neglected orchards, where all sorts of pests always 
multiply. 

The remedies and preventives for borers in plum 
trees are the same as those generally employed in 
fighting borers in the apple orchard. The first pre- 
ventive measure is clean culture. Weeds and grass 
standing about the trees invite the moths tO' come 
thither and lay their eggs. Secondly, the trunks should 
be kept clean of dead and scaly bark. Patches of sun- 
scald or canker are especially attractive to the borer. 
Thirdly, various washes are advised to keep the trunks 
clean and to prevent the young borers from getting 
into the trees. These are usually of lye or strong soap. 
The action is the same for all. The potash, or other 
alkali, keeps the trunk free from certain parasitic 
growths. If strong and carefully applied, it is very 
effective. The solution used and recommended by the 
writer is made by dissolving a pound of concentrated 
lye or potash in a large pail of water (three to five gal- 
lons). This solution is very strong and must be 
handled with caution. It may be put onto the trees 
with a large paint brush, an old broom trimmed down, 
or a convenient bunch of rags tacked to the end of a 

*See especially M. V. Slingerland. Cornell Experiment station Bul- 
letin 176. 1899. 



Insects and Other Enemies 345 

two-foot stick. It should be apphed carefully so as 
not to waste the solution, and at the same time to reach 
all parts of the trunk and larger branches. Old and 
neglected trees should be scraped before using any 
wash, and then a proportionately large dose should be 
given. vSuch washes should be used early in spring 
and at intervals of twO' months thereafter till three ap- 
plications have been given. 

Lime washes are beneficial to a certain extent. 
They tend to protect the tree somewhat from sun- 
burn, as explained elsewhere. The potash solutions 
are much better, however. 

After borers have hatched and begun work in 
the trees, no known solution will clean them out. The 
only resource of the orchardist then is to dig them out. 
This can be done with a pliable wire and a sharp knife. 
The work is best done in early summer, when the chips 
cast out by the borers, or the exuding gum, will reveal 
the location of the little workers. It is easier to keep 
borers out than to dig them out; and it is better for 
the trees. 

The Apple Tent Caterpillar. — This pest, which has 
been excessively troublesome in some parts of the 
country within the last two or three years, occasionally 
works on plum trees. In fact, its favorite feeding 
ground seems to be in the wild cherry and plum trees 
along the roadside; though in the orchard it appears 
to prefer the apple trees. 

Considerable headway can be made against the 
tent caterpillar by collecting and burning the egg- 
masses in winter and early spring. The most feasible 
campaign, however, begins with the ^gg picking and 
is followed by thorough sprayings with pans green. 
The first spraying should be made just as soon as the 
leaves open. Another should be given in ten days, 
and still another ten days or two weeks later, if the 



34^ Plums and Plum Culture 

caterpillars are abundant. Early and thorough spray- 
ing will give practical immunity from this serious pest. 

Cankerworms. — These small caterpillars, or meas- 
uring-worms, about an inch long, hatch in the 
spring from eggs laid in the fall (fall cankerworm) or 
spring (spring cankerworm). They appear on the 
trees with the opening leaves and are easily discovered 
by jarring a branch, when they come down out of the 
trees suspended by fine silken cords of their own 
spinning. Bands on the tree trunks, over which the 
wingless female moth cannot crawl to lay her eggs, are 
often recommended as a good means of defense against 
cankerworms. Such bands should be of sticky tar, 
cotton or similar material. But really the best treat- 
ment is thorough spraying with paris ^reen or some 
similar arsenical poison. This should be applied when 
the little caterpillars make their first appearance. One 
spraying is usually enough, unless imperfectly done or 
unless heavy rains wash ofif the poison. 

Btid Moth.^ThQ bud moth (Turetocera occUana), 
better known as an enemy of the apple, sometimes at- 
tacks plum trees, especially young trees in the nursery. 
The larvae eat into the young buds at the time they are 
opening, usually destroying the young shoot. They 
also eat the very young leaves. When they are dis- 
covered soon enough they may be killed by spraying 
with paris green. The spray really ought to be given 
just as the buds begin to open; but, unless one suspects 
an attack in advance, it is seldom possible to be so 
prompt. If the larvae are discovered at work, how- 
ever, a spraying should be given at once. 

Red Spider. — This common pest of greenhouses 
and conservatories rarely attacks plum trees. The 
mite or spider itself is so minute that it can hardly be 
seen, and one becomes aware of its presence first by 



Insects and Other Enemies 347 

the discoloration and generally withered and unhealthy 
look of the foliage. The treatment directed against 
this insect in greenhouses is to spray it with a heavy 
stream of water from the hose, thus dislodging it from 
the plants. Doubtless the same method of treatment 
would prove practicable if the spider became very trou- 
blesome on plum trees. It is not likely ever to be an 
orchard pest of much consequence, however. 

B limbic Flozvcr-heetle. — Goff reports this insect 
{Euphoria indd) as sometimes damaging plums in Wis- 
consin. It is a large, yellowish-brown beetle with the 
wing-covers sprinkled with irregular black spots. Al- 
though the common name calls it a flower-beetle, the 
damage which it does consists in piercing the skin of 
fruits when nearly ripe and eating the flesh. It is 
said to have been very injurious at Madison, Wiscon- 
sin, in the summer of 1896. No remedy is suggested 
except to destroy the beetles when they can be caught. 
Possibly they can be jarred into curculio catchers. 

Other Insects. — There are several other species of 
insects which sometimes cause slight trouble to the 
plum-grower; but they are of minor importance. In 
case of serious trouble from any unusual pest, an en- 
tomologist may be consulted without great difficulty. 
Send samples of the insect and its work to your state 
entomologist, your experiment station, or your agri- 
cultural paper. Expert advice is so readily available 
these days that no one ought to suffer seriously with- 
out knowing what is the -matter. 

Mice are tucked in here with the insect enemies 
of the plum because there is no other convenient place 
to speak of them. They sometimes do great damage 
in the nursery by eating young budding stock, or by 
diggii^g an^ eating plum seeds which are sown in the 
fall for growing stocks. Their customary wickedness, 



34^ Plums and Plum Culture 

however, is in eating- the bark off the trunks of young 
trees during the winter. This work is done both in 
the nursery and in the orchard. 

There seems to be no practicable way of prevent- 
ing the mice from eating fall-planted pits. Where 
field mice are thick, they merely have to be counted on 
as one of the risks. When they are expected to be 
troublesome, the best way is not to sow the seeds in 
the fall. Almost equally good results can be secured 
by stratifying the seeds and sowing in the spring. This 
requires some more work, however. 

Young trees are sometimes protected from the 
attacks of mice and rabbits by tying cornstalks, news- 
papers, wire netting, strips of wood, or some similar 
material about the trunks. Banking up the trees in 
fall with soil or heavy manure will often prove a suf- 
ficient protection. Treading down the snow is some- 
times advised; but it has to be attended to after every 
heavy snowfall, and does not work out well in practice. 
Trees surrounded by dead weeds and loose rubbish 
are especially liable to attacks from mice; and such 
litter should therefore not be allowed to accumulate 
anvwhere near the trees. 




XXXV 

Cooking Plums 



LUMS have a wider range of 
culinary usefulness than most 
fruits. If the reader is not 
already acquainted with this 
fact, he will get an inkling of 
it by reading over the follow- 
ing well-tested recipes, and he 
will become fully convinced of 
it by two or three years' experi- 
menting on his own account. One reason why plums 
have not grown more rapidly into the popularity 
they deserve is that so few housewives know how to 
make the most of them. This is particularly true of 
the native plums; and Professor Gofif did a good thing 
when he issued a bulletin of directions for cooking and 
using the American varieties. 

Stezving. — The ordinary way to cook plums for 
serving immediately is to stew them. Use ripe fruit 

349 




350 Plums and Plum Culture 

and stew in just water enough to keep them from 
burning, until nearly soft, then add sugar to suit the 
taste. Some of the Americana plums which have very 
astringent skins may be improved, it is said, by cook- 
ing a few minutes in water with a pinch of soda, — 
about half a teaspoon ful to the quart of water, — and 
pouring this water of¥ before the main cooking begins. 

Compote. — Plums may be served for dessert in a 
compote, made according to the following recipe from 
Alary Foster Snider : Make a syrup with two pounds 
loaf sugar, one quart of water. After it boils, add the 
white of an egg whipped up in a little water, whisk it 
into the syrup and simmer very gently, skim ofif all 
scum as it arises. Then put one quart fine ripe plums 
into the syrup and simmer very gently until tender, 
but not soft enough to break. Take them up and boil 
the syrup ten minutes longer; pour it over the plums 
and serve. 

Canning. — Plums are especially suitable for can- 
ning. Hardly any fruit grown keeps so well in cans 
and comes out with such appetizing freshness in the 
winter. Green Gages enjoy a special reputation for 
canning; though in this case one should consider all 
the varieties of the Green Gage type (Bavay, Hand, 
Lawrence, etc.) as equally entitled to consideration. 
The native plums are extensively canned in those lo- 
calities where they are commonly cultivated. The 
Japanese varieties are mostly good canned; some bet- 
ter than others. Satsuma is a favorite with some. 
The canneries use mostly "Green Gages" (which are 
probably oftenest Bavays) and "Egg plums" (which 
are sometimes Golden Drops). 

To can plums at home, select the best fruit possi- 
ble, prick each plum with a fork to prevent the burst- 
ing of the skin, and pack tightly into glass jars. Make 



Cooking Plums 351 

a syrup, using equal measures of sugar and water, or 
less sugar if the plums are very sweet. When the 
syrup boils, fill the cans with it to overflowing. Lay 
on the covers and set the cans on straw or wood in a 
kettle or boiler of boiling water. Let them boil for 
one-half an hour; remove the cans, and screw down 
the covers tightly. If the juice should have boiled 
over and the cans are not quite full, one need not refill 
them with syrup, for when the covers are screwed on 
while the fruit is still hot, the plums keep perfectly 
whether the cans are full or not. 

Some cooks say that plums cooked in the syrup 
are apt to be tough. If any difficulty of this sort is 
experienced, the following directions may be followed: 
Steam or cook the fruit in a porcelain-Hned kettle until 
tender, put in cans that have first been treated with 
boiHng water, and cover with boiling syrup made of 
equal parts of granulated sugar and water, filling the 
can to the top; then nm a silver knife around the can 
inside to let out the air, and seal at once. 

Canned plums may be used for pies and for mixing 
with or flavoring other fruits. Plums are often canned 
without sugar to be used in the winter for making 
fresh plum butter. The juice of canned plums makes 
excellent jelly. 

Preserves. — Plum preserves are hard to beat. 
Plums with solid flesh which does not cook to pieces 
make the best preserves. Large, freestone varieties 
like Italian Prune, Goliath or Sharp, are especially de- 
sirable. When the natives are used, those varieties 
like Wildgoose, Fanning and Milton, which peel easily, 
should be chosen. 

Weigh the plums, and to each pound of fruit allow 
a pound of sugar. Peel the fruit, scalding first for 
a few moments in boiling water if necessary. Throw 
them into a large earthen jar, putting in first a layer of 



^^2 Plums and Plum Culture 

fruit and then a layer of sugar. Let this stand over 
night. In the morning strain off the juice and bring 
it to the boiling point. Then put in the plums, cook 
very slowly until tender. Slcim out the plums care- 
fully with a spoon and lay them in jelly tumblers or 
small jars. Boil the syrup till thick, and pour over the 
fruit. Seal the tumblers or jars, tie them up with 
brandied paper, or put a lump of paraffin as big as a 
hickory nut on top. The paraffin wdll melt, if 
put on while the fruit is hot, and will' seal the 
jar nicely. 

If plums are used which are not easily peeled, put 
them into the large stone jars with sugar sprinkled be- 
tween the layers as before. The jars should be put 
into a kettle of cold water, brought to the boiling 
point, and cooked very slowly until the plums are ten- 
der. Do not allow them to boil to pieces. Take out 
the plums carefully and put into the jars as directed 
above; boil down the juice, pour over the fruit, and 
seal. Damsons are sometimes preserved in this way; 
but Damsons are not the best of plums for preserving, 
though they are habitually used for this purpose in 
some families. 

Spiced plums. — Make a syrup, allowing four 
pounds of sugar and one pint of vinegar to each seven 
pounds of plums; to this add a teaspoonful of allspice, 
one of cloves, two of cinnamon and half-ounce of gin- 
ger root, tying these spices into muslin, cooking them 
in the syrup; when it boils, add the plums, bringing all 
to the boiling point, then simmer slowly for fifteen 
minutes, and stand in a cool place over night. Next 
drain the syrup from the plums, put the plums into 
stone or glass jars, and boil the S3^rup till quite thick, 
then pour it over the fruit and set away. Some cooks 
think it unnecessary to drain ofif the syrup before boil- 
ing down the last time. Others think, on the other 



Cooking Plums 353 

hand, that this process should be gone through not 
only once, but nine times! 

Many of the native plums are fine for spicing, es- 
pecially the comparatively hard-fleshed varieties of the 
Wayland group. Damsons are largely used for this 
purpose in some neighborhoods. They are good, but 
inferior to the native varieties mentioned. 

Pickled plums. — Almost any kind of plums may be 
pickled, using the following recipe, given by Mary 
Foster Snider: Boil slowly with a pint of water until 
very soft. Press through a colander, weigh the pulp 
and to every five pounds allow three pounds white 
sugar, one-half pint vinegar, a level tablespoon each of 
ground cinnamon and cloves, and a level teaspoon salt. 
Boil and stir until rich and thick. Seal boiling hot in 
pint self-sealing jars. 

Jelly. — In the humble opinion of the writer, plums 
make the best jelly in the world. If made from the 
proper varieties, plum jelly has fully as good a color as 
the finest currant jelly, a better consistency, and a 
richer, more fruity flavor. Wayland is the best variety 
yet discovered for jelly, though all the native red va- 
rieties are fine; and almost any plum will do. The 
fruit should be picked rather green. 

To every peck of plums add a quart of water. 
Cook in a porcelain kettle until the plums are very 
soft and the juice rich and syrupy. Pour them into a 
strong muslin bag, hang it upon a stout hook, and 
leave to drain over night. Do not squeeze the pulp 
or the jelly will be cloudy. In the morning measure 
the juice, and to every cup of juice allow one cup of 
sugar. Or somewhat less sugar may be used, especial- 
ly if the jelly is to be eaten with meats, — a purpose for 
which plum jelly is peculiarly desiVable. Bring the 
juice quickly to the boiling point, and boil rapidly for 
23 



354 Plums and Plum Culture 

twenty minutes, skimming frequently. In the mean- 
time put the sugar in an earthen or granite dish and 
set it in the oven to heat. Stir it often, and leave the 
oven door ajar, if there is the least danger of browning 
it. As soon as the juice has boiled long enough, draw 
the kettle to the back of the stove, add the heated 
sugar, stir until it is all dissolved, return to the fire, 
and boil one minute from the time it begins to boil. 
The jelly glasses should be in readiness, standing in 
hot water. Pour the boiling liquid into the jelly 
glasses, and seal by dropping a bit of parafifin on top 
of each glass of jelly. The hot liquid will melt the 
parafifin, which will float and cover the jelly, making 
a perfect seal when it cools. Other schemes of seal- 
ing are in practice with dififerent housewives ; and one 
will do as well as another if it keeps the jelly from 
spoiling. 

Plum Juice is excellent for use in puddings and 
pudding sauces. Both the flavor and the color are at- 
tractive. For this purpose the juice from canned 
plums may be used with much satisfaction; and plums 
which are not fit to can for the fruit itself may still be 
worth canning for the sake of the juice. In such cases 
less sugar may be used. The juice alone may be put 
up in cans or bottles. Cook the fruit and drain it as 
for jelly. Boil the juice fifteen to twenty minutes, put 
in the cans or bottles, filling them entirely full, and 
seal air-tight. The juice may be slightly sweetened if 
desired, but too much sugar will cause it to jelly. 

It may be mixed into almost any sort of pudding 
sauce, and is especially desirable in making tapioca 
puddings. Soak the tapioca over night in equal parts 
of plum juice and water before making the pudding. 
In the morning cook the tapioca in a double boiler till 
clear, then add sugar to suit and pour into molds, al- 
lowing it to get very cold before serving. In serving 



Cooking Plums 355 

this dish, rich yellow cream looks particularly well in 
contrast with the red plum color. 

The juice may also be used in cornstarch pud- 
dings, and in all kinds of gelatine desserts. 

Marmalade, Jam, or Plum butter.— Boil the fruit in 
clear water until nearly done; remove from the stove 
and put through a colander to remove the pits; then 
rub through a sieve to make pulp fine; place pulp in 
kettle with about half as much sugar as pulp,— or if 
you wish to have it very rich, nearly as much sugar as 
pulp, — and boil down to the desired thickness, stirring 
almost constantly to prevent sticking to the kettle. 

Another recipe given in a bulletin by Professor 
Cioff is designed to make very nice plum butter out of 
De Soto, Wyant and other freestone plums. Pare and 
take out pits, put in granite kettle or pan and sprinkle 
heavily with sugar, and let stand over night. In the 
morning there will be juice enough to cook them. 
Stir constantly while cooking and add more sugar if 
not sweet enough. This method preserves the grain 
of the fruit, and with plums like De Soto, makes a but- 
ter equal or superior to peach butter. If put in glass 
and canned, less cooking is required than if kept in 
open jars. 

Drying. — The prunes of commerce are dried 
plums. In some cases drying plums may be practica- 
ble for the small household. In those states where 
the Americana plums are largely grown, the freestone 
varieties are selected, pared, pitted, spread on plates, 
lightly sprinkled with sugar, and dried, first in the 
oven, and later in the sun. They are then cooked like 
dried peaches when wanted. 

Uncooked. — Plums of certain varieties are unsur- 
passed served in their natural state at dessert. Besides 
this, almost any sweet variety may be served raw with 



2^6 Plums and Plum Culture 

sugar. Large, freestone, solid-meated varieties, which 
peel easily, are best, flavor not being considered. Take 
such a variety as Burbank's Climax, which may be 
quickly peeled, and split in yellow halves the size of a 
Waterbury watch ; cover this with sugar and rich 
cream, and you have a dish to make the proverbial 
"peaches and cream" hide itself for shame! Some of 
the Americana varieties, being exceedingly rich, high- 
flavored and aromatic, are especially fine served in this 
way. Even clingstone varieties may be eaten with 
sugar and cream by slicing the flesh ofif the stones just 
as it is often done with clingstone peaches. 

"Peaches and cream" is a name which is used to 
make men's mouths grow moist; but most folks have 
not thought of plums with sugar and cream. It is a 
combination worth trying. 




XXXVI 

Phim Trees as Ornamental Plants 



T\ HE ornamental value of plum 
I trees is rather remarkable. Al- 
i most every species is beautiful 
in blossom, and many of them 
are attractive in foliage and in 
habit of growth. This fact has 
received some recognition from 
landscape gardeners and plant 
lovers, but the knowledge of the 
good points of plums and cherries from the decorative 
standpoint has not been sufficiently spread. The 
following quotations from Professor Sargent's Sylva 
show something of a discriminating tree lover's 
appreciation of the plums and cherries. 

''As an ornamental plant," says Professor Sargent, 
''Primus americana has real value; the long wand-like 
branches form a graceful head, which is handsome in 

357 




^^S Plums and Plum Culture 

winter, and in the spring is covered with masses of 
pure white flowers, followed by ample bright foliage 
and abundant showy fruit." 

"As an ornamental shrub or small tree, Prunus 
alleghanensis deserves a place in the garden for its 
abundant flowers and handsome fruit." 

The Bird cherry. Primus pcnnsyhanica, is said to 
be "a, handsome, shapely, though short-lived tree, 
which in early spring is conspicuous for the great 
quantity of flowers which cover its branches." 

The choke-cherry is said to be "a handsome 
plant," and the black cherry. Primus serotina, is spoken 
of as "one of the stateliest and most beautiful trees of 
the eastern woods." 

"The beauty of the foliage of the mock orange, 
Primus caroliniana, its early and abundant flowers and 
the rapidity of its growth, make it a favorite garden 
plant in the southern states, where it has been used 
from early times to decorate the neighborhood of 
dwellings and to form hedges, for which purpose it is 
v/ell adapted by its rigid leaves and by its power of 
withstanding the effects of annual prunings." 

Of the Islay, Prunus ilicifolia, which may also be 
called a sort of plum, Professor Sargent says: "Few 
of the broad-leaved evergreens of North America are 
more beautiful or better suited to adorn a garden." 

Such opinions might be multiphed from other 
sources, showing how the best critics regard the plum 
and cherry trees as beautiful and interesting objects 
in the garden. We have all heard how the Japanese 
people love the plum and the cherry blossoms, how 
they plant these trees in their gardens and grow them 
in pots, and how they celebrate every year a cherry- 
blossom festival. The plum and cherry blossoms of 
the orient seem to make much the same impression on 
the visiting foreigner, for we have learned that when 



Plum Trees as Ornamental Plants 359 

another artist returns from Japan we are always to be 
treated to a new lot of plum blossom and iris pictures. 

Anyone who has been in a large plum orchard at 
blossoming time, especially where the trees were of 
Japanese or American species, must have been struck 
with their great beauty. A single tree is often orna- 
mental, but a mass of trees in blossom have a different 
and perhaps a more strikingly beautiful effect. 

As a class, the varieties of the Wayland group of 
native plums are probably the most attractive of any 
grown in this country. They are graceful in habit, 
with good foliage, and the blossoms are peculiarly 
abundant, graceful, and clean in their snowy white- 
ness. Reed has the best formed tree, but Moreman 
and Wayland have the better flower clusters. 

Next to these probably stand the members of the 
Wildgoose and Chicasaw groups. They are grace- 
ful in general habit, with fresh, smooth twigs and 
clean, shining foliage. The blossoms are borne in 
great profusion, in showy graceful clusters. 

The Americana and Miner varieties have a differ- 
ent habit O'f growth, and a different effect of foliage, 
but a no less decorative air. Nor are their blossoms 
less ornamental. In the Nigra group a conspicuous 
tinge of pink shows through the larger, showier blos- 
soms, and we have, in the case of special varieties, 
really the most handsome flower effect to be seen 
among plums in America. Cheney may be mentioned 
as of special merit for its good habit of growth com- 
bined with its extra large and showy blossoms. Mr. 
J. W. Kerr has in his collection a striking full-double 
variety of Primus americana, which has not yet been 
introduced to the trade, but which is a plant of real 
merit. It blossoms profusely with large clusters of 
flowers, the character of which is only weakly sug- 
gested by the accompanying engraving. 




DOUBLE BLOSSOMS OF AMERICANA PLUM 
Of J. W. Kerr 



Plum Trees as' Ornamental Plants 361 

The Domestica plnms are not usually very orna- 
mental, as compared, with the American species, but 
occasionally one finds a cluster of blossoms which will 
make a fine bouquet for almost any critic. The blos- 
soms are much more sparsely produced on the stems, 
but they are larger and individually more efifective. 

The Japanese plums are profuse bloomers, and 
make a very fine effect in the orchard rows at flower- 
ing time. The foliage is usually good, too. Yet for 
purely ornamental planting, they seem to be inferior 
to the natives. 

Some of the dwarf species, like the beach plum, 
Prmius maritima, and the western sand plum, Pninus 
angiistifoUa ivafsoni, are good planted in shrubbery 
borders. The sand cherries, Priimis pumila and P. 
piimila besscyi, are effective used in the same way. 

Probably the plum which is most planted by the 
landscape gardeners of this country is Pissard. It 
has beautiful pink flowers, but its chief value is in its 
rich red foHage. A well-grown tree of Pissard is a 
specimen for any tree collector to be proud of. This 
variety might well be planted oftener, though a single 
specimen is usually all that any one place will require. 
Mr. J. S. Breece of North Carolina has grown some 
new varieties within the last few years which are pos- 
sibly mixed with the blood of Pissard, and which cer- 
tainly have better foliage than that well-known 
variety. The leaves are larger, better in texture, and 
a great deal richer in color. The most promising 
of these varieties are Coleus and Garnet, especially 
the former. 

The black knot has usually been urged as an 
objection to the use of plum and cherry trees in orna- 
mental planting. If the plantings are to be neglected, 
this objection becomes of some importance; but if they 
are to have good care the black knot is no more of a 



362 Plums and Plum Culture 

menace than it is in the orchard of the careful plum 
grower. In other words, it is not worth considering. 

In planting plums for ornamental effect, it should 
be remembered that some of the named varieties are 
much more desirable than others. Trees should there- 
fore be selected from the catalog with the same care 
used in making up a list of varieties for orchard plant- 
ing. Moreover, this gives the opportunity to get 
trees grafted on non-sprouting stocks, and that is a 
considerable advantage on lawns or in parks. 

The varieties especially recommended for orna- 
mental planting by the writer are as follows: 

Japanese group. — Ogon, Chabot, Mari.i, Engre. 

Americana group. — Kerr's double, Deepcreek. 

Miner group. — Miner, Forestrose. 

Nigra group. — Cheney, August. 

Way land group. — Way land, Moreman, Reed. 

Wild goose group. — Wooten, Downing, Milton. 

Chieasazv group. — I^Iewman, Arkansas, Ogeechee, 
Pottawattamie. 

Watsoni group. — Strawberry. 

For foliage. — Coleus, Pissard, Garnet. 




GENERAL INDEX 



p. 
Affinities of varieties • . . . 

Alleghany plum 

Americana group 

plum, technical description . 

stocks 

Aphis 

Apple tent caterpillar .... 
Apricot as a stock 

plum 

plum, technical description . 
Beach plum 

technical description o . . . 

Bird cherry . . 

Black cherry, technical descrip- 
tion 

Black knot 

Bladders 

Blossoming chart . . . 288- 

seasons 

Borers ; . . 

Botany of the plums . . . „ 

Bradshaw type 

Budding 

Bud moth 

Bullace 

Bumble flower beetle .... 

Burbank, Luther, portrait . 
Butter, plum ....... 

Canada plum, technical descrip- 
tion 

Canker ... 

Cankerworms 

Canning plums 

Chicasaw group 

plum, technical description 

stocks 

Choke cherry, technical descrip- 
tion 

as a stock 

Classification, botanical . . . 

in general 

Climatology 



320 

296 

286 

344 

9 

27 
238 
347 

31 
347 

356 

15 
334 
346 
351 
70 
16 
246 

19 

248 

9 

5 

308 



PAGE 

Compote . . , 351 

Cooking plums 350 

Cultivation 270 

Curculio 33Q 



326 

335 

276 

238 

2Z 

30 

14 

283 



Curl 

Curl-leaf 

Cutting back 

Cuttings, propagation by . . 
Dame Aubert group .... 
Damsons 

plum, technical description 

Defective pistils 

Description of fruits, forms for 

of species 14 

Diamond type 25 

Diseases 317 

Distances for planting .... 270 
Domestica plums 20 

plum blossoms 21 

plums, history 22 

Drainage 268 

Drying fruit 356 

European plum, technical de- 
scription 14 

Exposures 268 

Flyspeck fungus 329 

Geography and climatology . . 308 

Grafting on roots 239 

Green Gage group 22 

Gummosis 332 

Hardiness 308-315 

Heading in • 274 

Home use, varieties for . . . 258 
Horse plum for stocks .... 242 

Hybrid plums . 79 

Impotency of pollen 285 

Insects 338 

Irrigation 271 

Jam 25b 

Japanese plums ...... 42 

technical description , . . . 14 
Jelly c .... 354 



Z^Z 



3^4 



General Index 



Juice of plums, cooking . 

tune drop 

Kerr, J. W., portrait .... 
Layers, propagation by ... . 
Lazy Club rules for nomencla- 
ture 

Lecanium scale 

Leaf rust 

Leaf-spot fungus 

Lichens 

Lombard type • 

Management in orchard and 

garden 

Marianna, history of ... . 

stocks 

Marketing 

Market varieties 

Marmalade 

Mice . . . • 

Mildew 

Miner group 

technical description .... 
Model home orchards . . . • 

Monilia fructigcna 

Mutual affinities 

Myrobalan group 

plum, technical description . 

stocks ......... 

Nigra group 

plum, technical description . 
Nomenclature, rules for . . . 
Oklahoma plum 

technical description .... 

Orchard and garden manage- 
ment ........ 

Ornamental use of plum trees . 
Pacific plum 

technical description .... 

as a stock '. 

Peach as a stock 

Perdrigons 

Phenology 

Phoma . 

Picking fruit 

Pickled plums 

Pin cherry 

Planting trees 

Plum trees as ornamental plants 

Pockets . , . . 

Pollen, amount produced . . . 

insufficient 

Pollination 

agencies of 

Domesticas and Damsons . 
Pollenizing chart .... 301 

Powdery mildew 

Preserves 

Propagation 

Proterandry and proterogyny . 

Prunes 

Pruning . . 

Prunus, technical description 
alleghaniensis ..... i 

americana 



4 
343 
328 
323 
331 
27 

265 

36 

244 

280 

253 

356 

348 

330 

57 

15 

260 

317 

297 

35 

14 

243 

54 

15 

4 

8q 

17 

26.^ 
358 

88 

17 
247 
244 

25 
315 
329 
280 
354 

18 
269 
358 
326 
299 
284 
282 
305 
305 
■304 
330 
352 



PAGE 
Primus — Continued. 

americana double . . . 360-361 
americana mollis ..... 15 

americana nigra 15 

arignstifolia 16 

angiistifolia watsoni . . . . 16 

besseyi 18-91 

capnli 19 

caroliniana 19 

ccrasifera . 14 

citnecJa 18 

demissa 19 

domestica 14 

domestica damascena . . . 14 

gracilis 17-89 

grave sii 87 

Itortulana . . . . . . 15-^^ 

Iiortulana mineri 15 

injnciinda 87 

insititia 31 

maritima . _ 17-86 

pennsylvanica 18 

pumila . . _ 18-92 

pumila besseyi 18-91 

pumila besseyi as a stock . 247 

rirularis 15 

salicifolia 19 

serotina 18 



serotina as a stock 
serotina salicifolia 

simonii 

spinosa 

subcordata .... 
subcordata as a stock 

triflora 

umbellata .... 



2^^ 

284 
24 

272 
13 

7-89 
15 



. 248 
. 19 
14-38 
14-33 
17-88 

• 247 

• 14 
17-91 

firginiana 19 

virginiana demissa . . . . 19 

Red spider 347 

Reine Claude group 22 

Ripe rot . .317 

Rust of foliage 328 

Sand cherry for stocks .... 247 

Sand plum 7± 

technical description .... 16 

as a stock 246 

San Jose scale 344 

Scab 327 

Scale insect 343-34^ 

Seed, plums from 236 

Selection of varieties . . . . 2=;! 
Self-sterility ....'... 28^ 
Serving fruit uncooked . . . 3'?6 

Shot-hole fungus 323 

Side-grafting 230 

Simon plum 38 

technical descrintion . . . . id 

Single-tree disease 336 

Slo'', European 14-33 

Soils 2t 



Spiced plums . . . 
Snraving .... 
St. Julien for stocks 
Stocks from seed 



267 
35^ 
278 
242 
236 



General Index 



2>^S 



Stratification of plum pits 
Suckers for propagation 
Sunburn of foliage . 
Svinscald .... 
Systematic pomology 
Tent caterpillar . 
Terry, H. A., portrait 
Thinning fruit 
Top-working 



236 
237 
335 
331 

346 

71 

279 

241 



PAGE 

\"arieties for ornamental use . . 263 

selection of 251 

Wayland, illustration of fruit . 65 

group 60 

technical description .... 15 

seedlings for stocks .... 247 

Whip-grafting 239 

Wildgoose group ...... 67 

Willard, S. D., portrait ... 7 




INDEX TO VARIETIES 



[Synonyms are in Iiallcs\ 



PAGE 

Abundance .- . 132 

Advance 142 

African 192 

Agen 94 

Aitken 169 

Alabama 201 

Alhambra . . . . . . . .201 

Alice 142 

Allen's Yellow 142 

Allfruit . . 202 

Alpha 229 

America 202 

American Eagle 142 

American Golden 177 

Ames 203 

Anderson 229 

Anderson's Early Red . . . 229 

Angouleme 95 

Apple 203 

Apricot 143 

Arch Duke . 95 

Arctic 95 

Arkansas 192-194 

Arkansas Lombard . . « . . 192 

Atkins 143 

August 169 

Babcock 133 

Bailey 115 

Bailey 134 

Baraboo 143 

Bartlett 204 

Bassett 229 

Bassett's American 229 

Bavay 96 

Bavay's Green Gage 96 



PAGE 

Bean 143 

Beatty . 143 

Beaty 192 

Beaty's Choice 192 

Beauty of Naples 117 

Belle 96 

Belle de Sepfembre ..... 96 

Bender 143 

Benson 177 

Berckmans 133 

Berger w ... 133 

Bestovall 204 

Beta 230 

Bicksley 143 

Biery 133 

Bittern 96 

Bixby 143 

Blackhawk 143 

Blackman 204 

Bleeker 96 

Bleeker's Gage 96 

Blood plum 140 

Blue Imperatrice ..... 97 

Blue Imperial 97 

Blue Magnum Bonum . . . 107 

Bluemont 230 

Boddaert 97 

Boddaert's Green Gage ... 97 

Bolmer 125 

Bomberger 144 

Botan 134 

Botan 132 

Bradshaw 97 

Brainerd 144 

Brainerd's Best 144 



366 



Index to Varieties 



367 



PAGE 

Breck 204 

Brill 230 

Brittlewood 144 

Brittlewood No. 3 .. ... 163 

Bryan i44 

Bryanston 98 

Bryanst oil's Gage 98 

Budd 144 

Burbank I34 

Bursoto ...» 144 

Caddo Chief . , . , » c . 193 
California .,,,•... 145 
Caper . . . , » . . . . 205 

Captain 177 

Captain Watrous . .... 165 

Carver 145 

Cel .......... 205 

Chabot . 134-135 

Chalco 206 

Champion 145 

Charles Downing 185 

Chase 132 

Cheney 169-170 

Cherokee 145 

Cherry 230 

Chicrigland ....... 206 

Chippeway 145 

Choptank ........ 184 

Christie 145 

City 146 

Clara 184 

Clark 193 

Clifford 184 

Climax 206 

Clinton 172 

Cloth of Gold 100 

Cluck 194 

Cluster (Damson) . . . 127-128 
Clyman ......... 98 

Coe's Golden Drop . . . . .104 

Coletta 194 

Coleus 206 

Colonel Wilder . . .' . . .175 

Colorado 146 

Colorado Queen 146 

Columbia 98 

Columbia 177 

Comfort 146 

Communia ........ 98 

Compass cherry 207 

Comptine 146 

Cook 230 

Cook's Choice 146 

Copper 98 

Corymbus 207 

Cottrell 146 

Couler 230 

Crable 232 

Crescent City 172 

Crimson 170 

Crimson Beauty 178 

Culberson 208 



PAGE 

Cumberland 178 

Cyclone 146 

Czar 99 

Dahlgren 147 

Daisy 208 

Dame Auhert 125 

Daniel Weeping 209 

Danish Damson 127 

Datte d'Hongrie 109 

Davis 185 

l^eaton 99-100 

DeCaisne 100 

DeCaradeuc 230 

Decker 172 

Deepcreek 147 

Delaware ........ 134 

Dennis 147 

Des Moines 147 

DeSoto 147 

Diamond loo-ioi 

Diamond . . . . , . . .231 

Diana 148 

Douglas 135 

Douglas 132 

Downing 185 

Drap d'Or 100 

Dr. Dennis 147 

Drouth King 194 

Duane 100-102 

Duane's Purple 100 

Dunlap 185 

Dunlap No. i 148 

Dwarf Rocky Mountain cherry 231 

Earliest of AH 135 

Early Cherry 230 

Early Honey 195 

Early Red 195 

Ebon 231 

Eldora 148 

Ellis 231 

El Paso 192 

Emerald 209 

Emerson 195 

Emerson 173 

Emerson Yellow 195 

Emily May ....... loi 

Emma 148 

Englebert 101-103 

Engre 136 

Erby's September 181 

Esther 173 

Etta . 148 

Eugen Furst 127-129 

Excelsior 209-210 

Fairchild 148 

Fanning 185 

Fawn 231 

Fellenburg m 

Field loi 

Fonthill 118 

Forest Garden 148 

Forest Rose 173 

Forewattamie , .210 

Fotheringham 102 



368 



Index to Varieties 



PAGE 

Franklin 210-211 

Freeman 186 

Free Silver 149 

Freestone (Damson) . . . .129 

French (Damson) 129 

French Prune 94 

Frogmore 130 

Frostproof 231 

Fuller 232 

Gale 149 

Galena 149 

Galopin 102 

Garden Kine , 149 

Garfield 179 

Garnet 211 

Gates 149 

Gaylord 149 

Giant 102 

Giant Prune 102 

Georgia 212 

General Hand 108 

German Prune . . . . . .102 

German Prune Seedling . . .157 

Glass 104 

Gold 150 

Gold 213 

Georgeson 136 

Gold-Colored 150 

CJolden 212-213 

Golden Beauty 179 

Golden Drop 104 

Golden Prune 105 

Golden Queen 160 

C^oliath 105 

Gonzales 213-214 

Govalle 215 

Grace 150 

Grand Duke 106 

Cjrayson . . ; 215 

Green Gage 106 

Gueii 107 

Haag 150 

Halcyon 215 

Hale 136 

Hammer 150 

Hand 108 

Hanson 151 

Harlow 108 

Harney 108 

Harrison . . 170 

Harrison's Peach 170 

Hart 151 

Hart's DeSoto 151 

Hartwick .151 

Hattankio .137 

Hattonkin .136 

Hattie 232 

Hawkeye 151 

Heep 19s 

Heikes . 137 

Heron . . . 108 

Hiawatha 152 

Hilltop . . 152 

Hoffman . 195 

Holland . , , , . . . . .215 



PAGE 

Hollister 185-186 

Hok 152 

Homestead 153 

Honey 153 

Honey drop 181 

Honey Grove 200 

Hoskins 232 

Hudson 109 

Hudson River Purple Egg . .109 

Hughes 195-196 

Hulings 109 

Hillings' Superb 109 

Hungarian 109 

Hungarian Prune 109 

Hunn 137 

Hunt 153 

Ickworth . , . _ no 

Ickzvortk Imperatrice . . . .110 

Ida 153 

Idall 173 

Idol _ 173 

Hlinois Ironclad 154 

Imperial Gage in 

Indiana 173 

Indian Chief 186 

lola 232 

lona 153 

Iowa 153 

Iowa Beauty 153 

Irby 181 

Irene 154 

Iris . 173 

Ironclad 154 

Isaac .154 

Isabella 154 

Italian Prune in 

Itaska 171 

Ithaca ......... 232 

Ivason 154 

James Vick . 180 

Jaune Hative , 112 

/. B. Rue 163 

Jefferson 112 

"Jennie Lucas 196 

Jessie it;4 

Jewell 186 

Joe Hooker 154 

Jones 154 

Jones Late 155 

Juicy 216 

Kampeska ii;5 

Kanawha 1 80-1 81 

Kelly 186 

Kelsey 137 

Kerr 137 

Kicab 232 

Kickapoo . .155 

Kieth . - 155 

Kingston 11 2- 11 3 

Klondike . .15^ 

Knudson 15=5 

Knudson's Peach 155 

Kopp m5 

Kroh 186 

Labert iSS 



Index to Varieties 



2^^9 



PAGE 

Lahert's Red • i5S 

Lafayette 112 

Lancaster 186 

Langsdon 181 

Lannix 216 

LaPrairie 155 

Large Red Sweet 160 

Late Conical 217 

Late Rollingstone 155 

Lawrence . . 112 

Lazvrence's Favorite . . . .112 

LeDuc 156 

LeDuc Vermillion 165 

Leipsic 113 

Leonard 156 

Leptune 181 

Lewis ' • 113 

Lillie 156 

Lincoln 114 

Lockey 156 

Lombard 114 

Lone Star 196 

Longfruit 138 

Longworth 115 

Lottie 156 

Louisa 156 

Louisiana 217 

Lucombe's Nonsuch 117 

Ludor 196 

Lyon . _ 115 

Macedonia . , 186 

Mackland . 157 

Magnum Bonum ...... 125 

Manitoba 157 

Mankato iS7 

Maquoketa I73 

Marble 217 

Marcellus . , 157 

Marcus 157 

Marianna 232 

Marion i57 

Marketman 138 

Maru 138 

Mary 157 

Maryland 218 

Mason 196 

Maynard 218 

McCartney ........ 197 

McLaughlin 11 5-1 16 

McPherson i97 

Melon 157 

Merunka iiS 

Mervnka 113 

Middleburg 116 

Mikado 136 

Miles 232 

Mills 116 

Milton 187 

Miner 173 

Minnetonka 157 

Minnie 219 

Mirabelle 233 

Mississippi 187-188 

Mississif^pi Red 187 

Missouri Apricot . . . , .181 



PAGE 

Moldavka 116 

Mollie 158 

Monarch 116 

Monolith 219 

Monon 158 

Monona 233 

Monroe 116 

Monroe Egg 116 

Monroe Gage 116 

Moon 158 

Moore's Arctic 95 

Moreman 181 

Mrs. Cleveland 187 

Mule 219 

Muncy 158 

Munson 197 

Munson 135 

Murdy 117 

Mussey 158 

Naples . . 117 

Nebraska 174 

Nebraska Wonder 167 

Nellie 158 

Nellie Blanche 158 

Neverfail 158 

Newman 197-198 

Newton Egg 158 

New Ulm 158 

Niagara 97 

Nikko 219 

Nimon 181 

Nona 219-220 

Nonsuch 117 

North Carolina 159 

North Star ....... 159 

Noyes 159 

Occident 221 

Ocheeda 159 

October 139 

October Purple 139 

Odegard 171 

Ogeechee 197 

Ogon 139 

Ohio , . . . . 187 

Ohio ProliHc 187 

Okaw 233 

Old Gold 159 

Ollie 221 

Omega 159 

Oren 174 

Orleans 117 

Osage 188 

Oullin 117 

Oullin's Green Gage . . . .117 

Owatonna 159 

Oxford 171 

Pacific 117 

Palmer 140 

Paquet 118 

Paris Belle 189 

Parker 23. ^ 

Parsons 173 

Peach ......... 118 

Peachleaf ...„..., 182 
Pearl 118 



370 



Index to Varieties 



PAGE 

Pearl 233 

Peffer Premium 160 

Pendent 221 

Penning 160 

Pentiing's Free 160 

Pennock 222 

Peters 118 

Peters' Yelloiv Gage . . . .118 

Petite Prune 94 

Pilot 160 

Piper^ 233 

Piper's Peach 2.^3 

Piram 197 

Plunk 160 

Pond 118-11Q 

Pond's Seedling 118 

Pontotoc 182 

Poole 186 

Poole's Pride 186 

Pottawattamie 199 

Potter 233 

Prairie Flower 175 

Preserver 223 

President 222-222 

Presley . . 223 

Pride ■. . .119 

Prince Englebert loi 

Prince of Wales 125 

Prince's Yelloiv Gage . . . .126 

Prof. Budd 144 

Prolific 136 

Prune d'Agen 94 

Prune Peclte 118 

Prunus Simonii „ 234 

Purple Favorite . . . . . .119 

Purple Gage 119 

Purple Panhandle 233 

Purple Yosemite 160 

8uackenboss 119 
,_uaker 160 

Ouality 160 

Queen 160 

OuetscJie de Hongrie .... 109 

Rachel 175 

Ragland 223 

Rareripe 233 

Ray , . . 224 

Red June 140 

Red Magnum Boniim . . . .117 

Red May 224 

Red N agate . . .... 140 

Red Panhandle 233 

Reed 182 

Reel 161 

Reine Claude « 96 

Reine Claude d'Angouleme . . 95 
Reine Claude de Bavay .... 9^ 
Reine Claude Violette . . . .119 

Richland 119 

Rohe de Sergeant 121 

Robinson i99 

Rockford 161 

Rocky Mountain 162 

Rollingstone - , 162 

Roselle 162 



PAGE 

Roulette 188 

Royal 206 

Royale Hative 121 

Royal Tours 120-121 

Ruby 224 

Rue 163 

Sada 163 

Sanders 20c 

Saratoga . 121 

Satin 225 

Satsuma ......... 140 

Schley 188 

Schley's Large Red 188 

Scribner 225 

Sea Egg 140 

Seper 171 

Seper's Peach 171 

Sergeant 121 

Sharp 122-123 

Sharp's Emperor 122 

Shipper 138 

Shippers' Pride ...... 119 

Shiro 225 

Shiro-Snioino 140 

Shropshire (Damson) .... 130 

Silas Wilson 163 

Silver Prune . 104 

Simon ... , 234 

Sirocco 225 

Sloe 164 

Smiley 188 

Smith 163-164 

Smith Red 171 

Smith's Orleans 117 

Snooks 164 

Sophie 189 

Spanish 122 

Spanish King 115 

Spaulding 122 

Speer 164 

Stanton 122 

St. Catherine ....... 121 

vSteinman 234 

vStella ......... 164 

Sticknev 234 

St. Julian . . , 122 

St. Lawrence 122 

Stoddard 164-165 

Stoneless 130 

Strawberry 234 

Strawberry ^^3 

Sucker State 182 

Sugar 124 

Sultan 221 

Svirprise ^75 

Suwanee — • . i8g 

Sweet Botan i33 

Tatge 124 

Tennant 124 

Texas Belle . 189 

Theresa 234 

Thousand-and-one 189 

Tragedy . . , , 124 

Transparent ....... 124 

Transparent 186 



Index to Varieties 



371 



PAGE 

Transparent Gage 124 

Trostle c . 234 

Truro 164 

Tucker 190 

Uchi-Beni .0 133 

Ungarish 109 

Union ......... 124 

Union Purple . . . c . . .124 

U. S 16s 

Utah Hybrid o . 225 

Van Buren . . . , , o . . 165 

Van Deman 165 

Van Houten 190 

Vermillion .,...».. 165 

Victoria „ . 122 

Violette de Galopin . . . , .102 

Virgie 226 

Vulcan 226-227 

Wady 00. 234 

Wady's Early 234 

Wales 125 

VVangenheim . . . . . . .125 

Warren 165 

Washington 125 

IVasse-Sumomo 135 

Wassu 140 

Watrous 165 

Watson 227 

Wayland < 182 

Wazata ,171 

Weaver 166 

Weeping Blood , . . . . .140 

Whitaker 190 

White Damson 131 



PAGE 

White Kelsey 136 

Wickson 227 

Wier 175 

Wier's Large Red 175 

Wilder 175 

Wildgoose 190 

Wildgoose, Yellow 190 

Wildrose 166 

Willard 140 

Williams 171 

Winnebago . ....... 166 

Wolf 167 

Wonder 167 

Wood 168 

Wooster .191 

Wooten . .191 

Worldbeater 182 

Worth , . 121 

Wyant 167-168 

Vates .......... 228 

Yeddo c ... 136 

Yellow Egg 725-126 

Yellow Gage ....... 126 

Yellow Japan ....... 134 

Yellow Oregon 183 

Yellow Panhandle . . o . . 234 

Yellow Sweet 168 

Yellow Transparent 200 

Yellow Wildgoose . . . . .190 
Yellow Yosemite . . . . . .168 

Yosebe 135 

Zulu 227-228 

Zwetsche Ungarische . . . .110 



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sheep for American farmers and sheep growers. It is 
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kept a sheep, may learn from its pages how to manage 
a flock successfully, and yet so complete that even the 
experienced shepherd may gather many suggestions from 
it. The results of personal experience of some years 
with the characters of the various modern breeds of 
sheep, and the sheep raising capabilities of many por- 
tions of our extensive territory and that of Canada— and 
the careful study of the diseases to which our sheep 
are chiefly subject, with those by which they may even- 
tually be afflicted through unforeseen accidents— as well 
as the methods of management called for under our 
circumstances, are carefully described. Illustrated. Cloth, 
12mo $1.00 



STANDARD BOOKS, 



Feeds and Feeding:. 



By W. A. Henry. This handbook for students and rftocK 
men constitutes a compendium of practical and useful 
knowledge on plant growth and animal nutrition, feed- 
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to this important subject. It is thorough, accurate and 
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stock literature in many years. All the latest and best 
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ing the work indispensable to every owner of live stock, 
658 pages, 8vo. Cloth $2.00 

Hunter and Trapper. 

By Halsey Thrasher, an old and experienced sportsman. 
The best modes of hunting and trapping are fully ex- 
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readily by following his directions. Cloth, 12mo. $ .50 

The Ice Crop. 

By Theron L. Hiles. How to harvest, ship and use ice. 
A complete, practical treatise for farmers, dairymen, ice 
dealers, produce shippers, meat packers, cold storers, 
and all interested in ice houses, cold storage, and the 
handling or use of ice in any way. Including many 
recipes for iced dishes and beverages. The book is 
illustrated by cuts of the tools and machinery used in 
cutting and storing ice, and the different forms of ice 
houses and cold storage buildings. 122 pp., ill., 16mo. 
Cloth. . . $1.0Q 

Practical Forestry. 

By Andrew S. Fuller. A treatise on the propagation, 
planting and cultivation, with descriptions and the botan- 
ical and popular names of all the indigenous trees of the 
United States, and notes on a large number of the most 
valuable exotic species. . ... . . . $1.5(* 

Irrigation for the Farm, Garden and Orchard. 

By Henry Stewart. This work is offered to tho5?e Amer- 
i«an farmers and other cultivators of the soil who, from 
painful experience, can readily appreciate the losses which 
result from the scarcity of water at critical periods. 
Fully illustrated. Cloth, 12mo $1.00 

Market Gardening: and Farm Notes. 

By Burnett T.andreth, Experiences and observation for 
both North and South, of interest to the amateur gar- 
dener, trucker and farmer. A novel feature of the book 
is the calendar of farm and garden operations for each 
month of the year; the chapters on fertiliaers, trans- 
planting, succession and rotation of crops, the packing, 
shipping and marketing of vegetables will be especially 
useful to market gardeners. Cloth, 12mo. . . $1.00 



XI 7 










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